Royal Canadian Yacht Club

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Royal Canadian Yacht Club
Abbreviation RCYC
Type Organizations based in Canada with royal patronage
Legal status active
Purpose/focus advocate and public voice, educator and network
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario
Region served Toronto, Ontario
Official languages English, French
Patron Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada
Affiliations Britannia Yacht Club
Website www.rcyc.ca
The on-island clubhouse, opened in 1919 by Prince Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII)[1]
Kwasind (1912), Royal Canadian Yacht Club Ferry built by Polson Iron Works
First Royal Canadian Yacht Club clubhouse, Centre Island

The Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) is a boating club based in Toronto, Canada.

Contents

History[edit]

It was founded in 1852 as the Toronto Boat Club, a recreational club and unofficial auxiliary of the Royal Navy on Lake Ontario.[2] In 1854, the club successfully petitioned Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom for the right to call itself "Royal". The Governor General for Canada West at the time suggested that the Club adopt the name "Canadian Yacht Club" to better express its importance beyond the local area, and the petition for a Royal Warrant was made in that name.[3]

In 1867, James Avon Smith designed the Royal Canadian Yacht Club clubhouse on Esplanade Street West.[4]

In 1878, it received permission from the British Admiralty to use the Blue Ensign, defaced with a crown in the fly.[5]

In 1881, it moved from the increasingly industrial Toronto waterfront to the Toronto Islands after building a clubhouse on 10 acres (40,000 m2) of land. Frank Darling of Darling & Curry designed the Club House for the RCYC, 1880-81.[6]

In 1890, Emma Fraser Blackstock dedicated 'A starry night - Une nuit étoilée : valse rêverie' (music for piano) to the RCYC.[7]

In the Library and Archives Canada collection, 91 cyanotypes show sailboats racing during the annual regatta of the RCYC in 1893 under the auspices of the Lake Yacht Racing Association (LYRA).[8]

Norman Bethune Dick designed the RCYC clubhouse on the lakefront at the foot of Lorne Street in 1894.[9] After the clubhouse burned in 1896, it was rebuilt. In 1896, Samuel Hamilton Townsend designed the RCYC on Esplanade Street West opposite Union Station [10] The clubhouse was demolished circa 1950.

Matthew de S. Wedd's 'You and Canoe: for voice and piano' (1896) was dedicated to Commodore Boswell and the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.[11]

In 1905, Henry Sproatt designed the clubhouse on Centre Island. In 1912, John McIntosh Lyle designed an addition to the clubhouse at Centre Island and new verandahs. [12] After this clubhouse burned in 1918, it was rebuilt.[13]

In 1916, the Governor General became patron of the RCYC[14]

In 1926, Charles John Gibson designed the war memorial at the club on Toronto Island.[15] The Royal Canadian Yacht Club published "Royal Canadian Yacht Club memorial: In memoriam, 1914-1918" [16]

In 1930, the RCYC published 'Song sheet / Royal Canadian Yacht Club' [17]

In 1939, Ferdinand Herbert Marani of Marani, Lawson & Morris designed a bath house for the club at Toronto Island.[18]

In 1940-41, the Royal Canadian Navy Reserves scheme for training yacht club members developed the first central registry system.[19]

Today, the RCYC is large year-round sailing and social club with an emphasis on family participation, the development of junior sailors and a Corinthian attitude towards excellence in sailing. The club fleet of over 500, annually hosts international regattas for a wide variety of boat classes.

Further reading[edit]

In 1952, the club published a book to commemorate its centennial, 1852-1952.[20]

In 1954, Charles Henry Jeremiah Snider, wrote "One Hundred Years Royal" : vol. II, annals of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 1938-1954', with a record of the club's principal trophies and the contests for them.[21]

In 1980, Ralph Robinson wrote Into a second century : a view of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 1850-1980, our first century on the islands.[22]

In 2002, Charles Henry Jeremiah Snider and Frank Ovens wrote Annals of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club : with a record of the club's trophies and the contests for them.[23]

In 2006, Trevor Wallace wrote Interrupting the artefact : the reorientation of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. [24]

Plaque[edit]

There is an Ontario Heritage Trust plaque for the club at coordinates: 43.621351 -79.365664 "The province's first sailing association, the Toronto Boat Club, was formed in 1852 and two years later became the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. Dedicated to the promotion of yachting and naval interests, it initiated competitions which stimulated widespread interest in sailing and yacht design, and in 1860 instituted the Prince of Wales Cup, freshwater racing's oldest trophy. The Club was housed on Toronto's waterfront until 1881 when it moved to Toronto Island. This moved facilitated the club's continued growth. The R.C.Y.C. figured prominently in the formation of the Lake Yacht Racing Association (1884) for the establishment of uniform rules. The achievements of numerous members in competitive yacht racing have brought the Royal Canadian Yacht Club international recognition." [25]

Objects[edit]

The objects of the club are:

  1. to encourage members to become proficient in the personal management, maintenance, control and handling of their yachts, in navigation, and in all matters pertaining to seamanship;
  2. to promote yacht architecture, building and sailing in Canadian waters;
  3. to promote excellence in competitive sailing; and
  4. to promote such other sports and social activities as may be desirable in the interest of members generally.

Facilities[edit]

The club has two locations:

Island Club is on set of private islands in the Toronto harbour with:

  • Docks and dry sailing for over 450 boats
  • Marine chandlery and maintenance services
  • Complete marine repair and servicing
  • Four tennis courts
  • Lawn bowling
  • 25 metre outdoor swimming pool
  • Formal and informal dining and social areas
  • Meeting and catering facilities
  • Private parking and launch service

City Club is at St. George Street with a 4,000-square-foot (370 m2) fitness facility featuring:

  • Five international singles squash courts
  • One doubles squash court
  • Three badminton courts
  • 20 metre heated indoor swimming pool
  • Formal and informal dining and social areas
  • Crown and Beaver Pub
  • Meeting and catering facilities
  • Private parking

Traditions[edit]

The Royal Canadian Yacht Club has a collection of museum-quality replicas on display. Ten of the models of actual vessels on display are by Alfred (Fred) Huffman.[26]

Affiliations[edit]

As a Provincial Training Centre for 2012, RCYC supports the training of athletes at the Olympic level.[27]

See also[edit]

Portal icon Toronto portal
Portal icon Nautical portal
Portal icon Sport in Canada portal

References[edit]

  1. ^ "About RCYC". Retrieved 2009-07-16. [dead link]
  2. ^ Yachting - The Canadian Encyclopedia
  3. ^ RCYC Library & Archives Canada
  4. ^ James Avon Smith Dictionary of Architects in Canada
  5. ^ Blue Ensign Library & Archives Canada
  6. ^ Frank Darling Dictionary of Architects in Canada
  7. ^ Emma Fraser Blackstock 'Une nuit étoilée : valse rêverie' (Toronto: A. & S. Nordheimer, 1890)
  8. ^ Annual regatta of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club in 1893
  9. ^ Norman Bethune Dick Dictionary of Architects in Canada
  10. ^ http://dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/architects/view/1361 Samuel Hamilton Townsend Dictionary of Architects in Canada
  11. ^ Matthew de S. Wedd 'You and Canoe: for voice and piano' (1896) (Toronto: W.R. & Co. 490-3 Whaley, Royce)
  12. ^ John McIntosh Lyle Dictionary of Architects in Canada
  13. ^ Henry Sproatt Dictionary of Architects in Canada
  14. ^ Governor General as patron Library & Archives Canada
  15. ^ Charles John Gibson Dictionary of Architects in Canada
  16. ^ "Royal Canadian Yacht Club memorial: In memoriam, 1914-1918" (Toronto : Rous & Mann, 1928)
  17. ^ 'Song sheet / Royal Canadian Yacht Club' (Toronto : Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 1930)
  18. ^ Ferdinand Herbert Marani Dictionary of Architects in Canada
  19. ^ Royal Canadian Naval Reserve - Scheme for Training Yacht Club Members
  20. ^ 'Commemorating the centennial of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 1852-1952' (Toronto : Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 1952)
  21. ^ Charles Henry Jeremiah Snider, "One Hundred Years Royal" : vol. II, annals of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 1938-1954 Toronto : Rous & Mann Press, 1954
  22. ^ Ralph Robinson 'Into a second century : a view of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 1850-1980, our first century on the islands' (Toronto: The Club, 1980)
  23. ^ Charles Henry Jeremiah Snider and Frank Ovens wrote 'Annals of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club : with a record of the club's trophies and the contests for them' (Toronto, Royal Canadian Yacht Club, 2002).
  24. ^ Trevor Wallace 'Interrupting the artefact : the reorientation of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club (Ann Arbor, Mich. : ProQuest, UMI Dissertation Services, 2006)
  25. ^ [1]
  26. ^ http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20100615.OBHUFFMANATL/BDAStory/BDA/deaths Alfred (Fred) Huffman's model
  27. ^ [2]

External links[edit]

References[edit]
New venues
Existing venues
Temporary venues
Venues outside Toronto
Non-competition venues
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