Royal Hamilton Yacht Club
 120th Anniversary Burgee of Royal Hamilton Yacht Club | |
| Formation | 1888 |
|---|---|
| Legal status | active |
| Purpose | advocate and public voice, educator and network for recreational and competitive sailors, coaches, volunteers and events |
| Location |
|
Official language | English, French |
Patron | Charles, Prince of Wales |
| Affiliations | Britannia Yacht Club |
| Website | rhyc.on.ca |
The Royal Hamilton Yacht Club (RHYC) is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at the west end of Lake Ontario, and has been in existence since 1888. When the yacht club first opened, it was located on the Burlington Canal (near the light station), along the beach strip that separates Burlington Bay from Lake Ontario. It later moved to the foot of Bay Street. Since its founding in 1888, RHYC has promoted local and international yacht racing.
The original Letters Patent, dated 30 May 1891, identifies the purpose of the Club's founding:
"To establish and maintain a Club as a Corporation having for its objects the encouragement of Yacht building and Yacht sailing and racing on Ontario waters by the name of "The Royal Hamilton Yacht Club" the said club have been permitted by Us to assume the Style of 'Royal'..."[1]
The unique climatic, geographic, and hydrographic qualities provided by Burlington Bay give The Club one of the longest sailing seasons in central Canada. The club has won several Ontario Sailing Association awards in recent years, including Regatta of the Year (2002, 2007) and several Youth Performance Ranking Trophies.[2]
History
The Royal Hamilton Yacht Club was founded in 1890. It received permission for Use of the Prefix Royal. It also received permission from the British Admiralty to use the Blue Ensign.
In 1891, William Stewart designed the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club clubhouse at Burlington Beach. [3] The Clubhouse had its grand opening on October 3, 1891.[4] The maritime features included a Swing bridge and Lighthouse.[5]
The Department of the Interior and Department of Marine and Fisheries leased a water lot to the Hamilton Yacht Club 1891-1915.[6]
In 1895, Alfred W. Peene designed the Victoria Yacht Club, at the foot of Wellington Street North, Hamilton, Ontario.[7]
In 1907, the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club was featured in a Hamilton Souvenir Calendar Published by Stanley Mills & Cl. Ltd., Hamilton, Canada.[8]
In 1915, the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club clubhouse burned.[9]
In 1924, RHYC's Norman Robertson earned the right to represent Canada and he became this country's first Olympic sailor when he competed at the Paris Olympiad that year.[10][11] In the years since, RHYC has been home to champions at the local, national, and international levels.
In 1940-41, the Royal Canadian Navy Reserves scheme for training yacht club members developed the first central registry system.[12]
Many of the young sailors who have represented Canada in international competition have been members of, or trained by, the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club. For nearly half a century, RHYC's Youth Sailing Program, and, more recently, its Graduate Program, have helped these young men and women develop the skills and attitudes they need to excel in international competition. The success of these is due largely to the work of dedicated volunteers from the RHYC sailing community. Recent awards won by young Hamilton sailors include the E. Aileen Clarke Youth Performance Ranking Trophy awarded to the highest-ranking Club in the 13 and Under Provincial Youth Regatta Series (2005, 2001), and the Unistrut Central Youth Performance Ranking Trophy for winning the 16 and under series in 1998.[2]
The Club has also figured prominently in international match racing. In 1978, RHYC's Don Green and his crew took Evergreen to the Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit to recapture the Canada's Cup for Canada.[13] Evergreen's feats are commemorated in The Club's Evergreen lounge. RHYC sailors defended the cup successfully in 1981[14] and 1984.[15]
In 2008, RHYC celebrates the 120th anniversary of its founding, the 50th anniversary of its Youth Sailing program, and the 30th anniversary of RHYC yacht Evergreen's victory in the Canada Cup.
Historical highlights
- 1895: Lake Yacht Racing Association (LYRA)
- 1924: RHYC member Norm Robertson competes as Canada's first Olympic sailor
- 1930: Sailing venue for the first British Empire Games
- 1978: Don Green (Evergreen) recaptures the Canada's Cup from the Bayview Yacht Club
- 1981, 1984: RHYC sailors successfully defend the Canada's Cup
- 2002: RHYC hosts the International Europe Class World Championships, a qualifier for the 2004 Athens Olympics
- 2003: RHYC hosts the LYRA annual regatta.
2008 Regatta Schedule
2008 will be another busy regatta season for RHYC, which relies heavily on the volunteer work of its members to organize and staff events.
- Lilac Festival Olympic Classes Regatta (PDF), 24–25 May 2008
Hosted annually by RHYC, the Lilac Regatta for Olympic and Developmental class boats provides an early season venue for Olympic hopefuls. - Rock the Hammer 120 Regatta (PDF), 28–29 June 2008
An open regatta for keelboats owned or chartered by members in good standing of the Canadian Yachting Association (CYA) or US Sailing member club. - The Fogh Boorman Regatta (PDF), 12–13 July 2008
Incorporating the CYA 16 & Under Eastern Championships, the CYA 15 & Under Eastern Championships, the Ontario Sailing 13 & Under Championships, the Ontario Sailing 16 & Under Double Handed Championships and the Ontario Sailing 16 & Under Single Handed Championships - 2008 Shark World Championships, 2–8 August 2008
The first Shark was designed and built in Southern Ontario by George Hinterholler in 1959. Since then, the Shark has been declared a Classic Yacht class by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). This regatta is held in Europe every third year, and in North America in other years. This year marks the 43rd time the regatta has been sailed. In 2009, for the 50th anniversary of the building of the first Shark, the regatta will be held at its birthplace, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada.
Affiliations
As a Development Training Centre for 2012, RHYC supports the training of Athletes from the Grassroots to the National Team Level and supports the development of Coaches from Level 1 (CANSail 1&2) to Level 4-5.[16]
The Club has reciprocal agreements with other yacht clubs e.g. Alexandra Yacht Club • Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club • Baie d'Urfé Yacht Club • Bay of Quinte Yacht Club • Beaconsfield Yacht Club • Bluffers Park Yacht Club • Boulevard Club • Britannia Yacht Club • Brockville Yacht Club • Bronte Harbour Yacht Club • Burlington Sailing & Boating Club • Cathedral Bluffs Yacht Club • Cobourg Yacht Club • Crescent Yacht Club • Etobicoke Yacht Club • Fair Haven Yacht Club • Frenchmans Bay Yacht Club • Genesee Yacht Club • Henderson Harbour Yacht Club • Hudson Yacht Club • Island Yacht Club • Kingston Yacht Club • Lord Reading Yacht Club • Macassa Bay Yacht Club • Mimico Cruising Club • National Press Club • Niagara-on-the-Lake Sailing Club • Oakville Yacht Squadron • Olcott Yacht Club • Port Credit Yacht Club • Prince Edward Yacht Club • Queen City Yacht Club (Toronto) • Royal Canadian Yacht Club • Sodus Bay Yacht Club • Toronto Humber Yacht Club • Stormont Yacht Club • Trident Yacht Club • Tuscarora Yacht Club • Willows Bank Yacht Club • Wilson Yacht Club •
Notes
- ↑ Penny, Harry L. (1988). One Hundred Years and Still Sailing: a History of Hamilton Yachts, Yachtsmen and Yachting, 1888 to 1988. Hamilton: D.G. Seldon Printing, p. 5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ontario Sailing Association. Annual Awards. Retrieved on: 11 May 2008.
- ↑ http://dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/architects/view/1332 William Stewart Dictionary of Architects in Canada
- ↑ http://images.burlington.halinet.on.ca/7580/data?n=9 Royal Hamilton Yacht Club clubhouse
- ↑ http://images.burlington.halinet.on.ca/7581/data?n=10 Royal Hamilton Yacht Club brings & lighthouse
- ↑ http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/ourl/res.php?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_tim=2012-07-14T14%3A12%3A22Z&url_ctx_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=1348764&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fcollectionscanada.gc.ca%3Apam&lang=eng Department of the Interior Library & Archives Canada
- ↑ http://dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/architects/view/1384 Alfred W. Peene Dictionary of Architects in Canada
- ↑ http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/ourl/res.php?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_tim=2012-07-14T13%3A36%3A56Z&url_ctx_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=3335522&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fcollectionscanada.gc.ca%3Apam&lang=eng Albertype Company/Library and Archives Canada/PA-032189 Royal Hamilton Yacht Club Hamilton Souvenir Calendar 1907 Published by Stanley Mills & Cl. Ltd., Hamilton, Canada.
- ↑ http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/ourl/res.php?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_tim=2012-07-14T13%3A53%3A08Z&url_ctx_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=3281494&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fcollectionscanada.gc.ca%3Apam&lang=eng Andrew Merrilees / Library and Archives Canada
- ↑ Penny, pp. 28, 29.
- ↑ Canadian Yachting Association. Sailing Team History. Retrieved on: 11 May 2008.
- ↑ http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/ourl/res.php?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_tim=2012-07-14T14%3A20%3A40Z&url_ctx_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=893484&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fcollectionscanada.gc.ca%3Apam&lang=eng Royal Canadian Naval Reserve - Scheme for Training Yacht Club Members
- ↑ Penny, pp. 77-95.
- ↑ Penny, pp. 103-106.
- ↑ Penny, p. 113.
- ↑
See also
External links
- List of Civilian organizations with prefix "Royal" - Heritage Canada.
- List of civilian organizations with the prefix "Royal" prepared by the Department of Canadian Heritage
- Royal Hamilton Yacht Club
- 2008 Shark World Championships
- RHYC slideshow on Flickr
- Royal Hamilton Yacht Club on YouTube