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Royal Yacht Squadron (United Kingdom)

image by Martin Grieve

Flag of Royal Yacht Squadron
Burgee

Flag of Royal Yacht Squadron

Grand Larousse Encyclopédique du XXe siècle (1928) says that the Royal Yacht Squadron is the oldest yacht club in the world. It was founded in 1812 and has its seat in Cowes, Isle of Wight. The King granted its members the special privilege to use the White Ensign.
Ivan Sache, 25 December 2005

Perrin (p.137) gives the date of the Yacht Squadron's foundation (in Cowes) as 1815 rather than 1812, and cites the close of the long war with France as the spur. He goes on to say that the club's first flag (unofficially adopted) was a plain White Ensign without a Cross of St George in the fly, however, following official objections this was withdrawn and the club flew an undefaced Red Ensign between 1821 and 1829. In 1829 a permission to fly the "St George's or White Ensign" was granted, which the club still flies.
Christopher Southworth, 25 December 2005

RYS may be the world's *first* yacht club measured socially, but not chronologically. That honour goes to the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Ireland, founded 1720. It's not even the oldest in England--that would be, I believe, the Royal Thames Yacht Club (1775).
Joe McMillan, 25 December 2005

It is probably more accurate to say that the Royal Yacht Squadron has continuously used the word "yacht" in its name for longer than any other club. The seal of the club has the date 1812, but the club was not formed until 1 June 1815.

Burgee

image by Clay Moss, 27 May 2007