Nowadays anyone can become a yachtsman.....

[mjcoon]

I thought Lipton had said that.

And RichardS referred to it in Post #5...

 

[RichardS]

No, it was RichardS in Post #5

Indeed, it was.

Richard

 

[Wansworth]

Indeed, it was.

Richard

Oh,I stand corrected I hope I won’t be admonished ??

 

[RichardS]

Oh,I stand corrected I hope I won’t be admonished ??

That's not allowed under the "New Rules".

Richard

 

[Sharky34]

Years ago, snobbish members of the Royal Yacht Squadron blackballed Sir Thomas Lipton's application to become a member. He was not short of wonga, in fact he was loaded, but he was "in trade" (a grocer) and therefore socially beyond the pale. Yachting was not for the likes of people like him!

How things have changed, and for the better in my view. My neighbour here in Vannes marina this weekend earns his living as a busker and lives on his small boat with the obligatory busker's dog. He is a very pleasant chap who speaks perfect English. He is fitting out his little yacht for a voyage to Ireland and Scotland next year.

Good luck to him.

Didn't the RYS build an outside pavillion, so Queen Vic could have tea, 'at' the club, but not 'in' the club, since women were not allowed.

 

[Sharky34]

Exclusiveness is not confined to the upper classes by any means. I only know one or two RYS members personally, though they were members through their RN officership. I understand that such members are not regarded as 'real' members by the old guard. However, it is a private club and entitled to do whatever it likes in the way of maintaining standards and keeping you and me out, though I have always found RYS members that I have met on the pontoon perfectly approachable and easy to deal with. I suspect that you will find other sailing groups such as the classic and traditional boat clubs equally hard to penetrate without the requisite qualifications.

There is a notice at the RYS landing stage, "only to be used by serving Naval Officers, or members of the Royal Family".

 

[Poignard]

Didn't the RYS build an outside pavillion, so Queen Vic could have tea, 'at' the club, but not 'in' the club, since women were not allowed.

I bet she was "not amused"

 

[Poignard]

There is a notice at the RYS landing stage, "only to be used by serving Naval Officers, or members of the Royal Family".

The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, of which I have the honour of being a "life absent member" (which presumably means I'm dead!) used, it is alleged, have a sign at the door saying "No dogs or Chinese."

 

[davidej]

Didn't the RYS build an outside pavillion, so Queen Vic could have tea, 'at' the club, but not 'in' the club, since women were not allowed.

When Queen Vic asked where Prince Albert was, she was told

"He is sailing with your grocer, Maam"

 

[Charlie Boy]

When Queen Vic asked where Prince Albert was, she was told

"He is sailing with your grocer, Maam"

I’ll bet she sucked her gums at that!

 

[Sea-Fever]

These things are all relative. Whilst sailing in the land of freedom, opportunity and equality, we got rousted by the harbour police for doing no more than sailing too close to the NYYC in Newport Rhode island; they did accept that it wasn't a crime, but apparently the club 'don't like it'.

Wow, the club dont like it, I would have sailed straight past again....and again.

 

[oldharry]

There always were places like RYS, for exclusive types who want to keep themselves to themselves. Then there were ordinary people typified by Davies in Riddle of the Sands who just got on with it without the trimmings. I guess it's much the same now. I only ever joined clubs where sailing was the main interest. Last club I was in didn't even have a bar, other than the one across the entrance to the estuary!

 

[Sea-Fever]

Just looked at the RYS introductory video on the website. I imagine it has a diverse membership representing all aspects of modern society.

I've just watched that video. It gives the impression of a group of people obsessed with how they are judged by others and whether they are better than everyone else. It must be a lonely place at the top.

 

[Poignard]

I only ever joined clubs where sailing was the main interest. Last club I was in didn't even have a bar, other than the one across the entrance to the estuary!

My club , the RNSA, doesn't even have a clubhouse!

We are so poor we have to make do with an undefaced blue ensign.

 

[oldharry]

My club , the RNSA, doesn't even have a clubhouse!

We are so poor we have to make do with an undefaced blue ensign.

My current club too, Trident Owners Association. I get a special burgee as Commodore the rest have to make do with an ordinary one. We meet occasionally in whatever hostelry will put up with us!

 

[Habebty]

I wouldn't want to join a club that ..... (you all know the rest)

Richard

Quite right... I wouldn’t join any club that would have you as a member either

 

[Kukri]

The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, of which I have the honour of being a "life absent member" (which presumably means I'm dead!) used, it is alleged, have a sign at the door saying "No dogs or Chinese."

It did not. As you will recall, it did not originally have a door, as Kellett Island was ... an island.

That sign first appeared in a PRC propaganda film made in the Sixties, on the gates of a park in Shanghai. It didn’t really exist there, either.

What the RHKYC does have is a lifebuoy on the wall of the wet bar, inscribed “This Club was re-opened by HMS Vengeance in 1945”.

Anyone for a hoi loong?

 

[Kukri]

I will never enter the RYS castle or step on its lawn, but the rather agreeable chap who bought my “ex” is a member, and she appears as the centerfold in their 200th anniversary publication.

 

[Sea-Fever]

I will never enter the RYS castle or step on its lawn, but the rather agreeable chap who bought my “ex” is a member, and she appears as the centerfold in their 200th anniversary publication.

Portrait or landscape? Just trying to decipher what you said

 

[Kukri]

Landscape. But here’s an earlier portrait. I have absolutely no memory of owning that T shirt.