Commodore Clive Simpson has extended an invitation to Members to attend a 100th Anniversary Celebration of the granting of the Royal Warrant allowing the Club to be known as The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.

The celebration will be a Formal Club Dinner in the Bruni Room on the evening of Thursday, 21 January, with the Commodore-in-Chief  His Excellency the Honourable Peter Underwood, Governor of Tasmania, in attendance.

Yachting has a long history on the River Derwent with the first Hobart Town Regatta being held on 1 December 1838 ‘to commemorate the discovery of Van Diemen’s Land by Abel Tasman in 1642’.  The Hobart Town Courier’ reported that the Governor Sir John Franklin and Lady Franklin, together with ‘quite a numerous party’ on the Government barge, led a procession of about 60 boats.

The earliest attempt to form a yacht club and conduct regular racing on the River Derwent began when the Tasmanian Yacht Club was formed in 1859,  but the club lapsed after a few seasons. Yacht racing on the Derwent achieved a permanent status when a group of Hobart sailing enthusiasts met on 20 May 1880 and re-formed the Derwent Yacht Club.  This was the beginning 130 years ago of what is now The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, today one of Australia’s most prestigious clubs with a proud history of conducting club, state, national and international races and regattas.

Records show that in September 1901 the Club made an application to be granted a Royal Warrant but nothing further was heard of the matter, most likely because of the death of Queen Victoria in that year.  It was not until the start of the 1907-08 season that a sub-committee was formed to enquire once more into obtaining a Royal Warrant.

It was a lengthy process, which required petitioning His Majesty King Edward VII and many other formalities through the Governor of Tasmania and the Premier of the State.  It also required a petition to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for a Warrant to wear the Blue Ensign.

According to ‘Sailing On…. a history of The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania 1880-1980,’ the then Commodore, O.R.Tinning, was advised by the Governor

that ‘His Majesty had been pleased to grant the prayer of the petition’ for a Royal Warrant and changing of the Club’s name to ‘The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.’

However, it was not until early in 1910 that the Admiralty Warrant was granted, thus authorising the Club and individual members, within certain restriction, to fly the Blue Ensign. 

A new Club burgee was also created with the design of a white flag with a blue horizontal and a red vertical stripe enhanced with a Crown in the centre being approved by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty with the statement ‘that they do not take exception to the flying of the burgees provided that they do not resemble any of the flags or pennants of His Majesty’s ships.’

“The Formal Club Dinner will give Members of The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania the opportunity to gather together in celebration of the centenary of a significant step forward in the status of our great club,” Commodore Simpson said.

• Bookings for the 100th Anniversary Celebration dinner may be made at RYCT reception or by phoning 6223 4599 with RSVP essential by Monday, 18 January.   Dress: Black tie. Club uniform is acceptable, and the wearing of miniatures (medals and medallions) is invited.