ROYAL CINQUE PORTS YACHT CLUB
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Our Patron and Our President
May They Rest in Eternal Peace
Admiral of the Fleet the Lord Boyce KG GCB OBE DL Lord Warden and Admiral
In terms of Cinque Ports’ activities, the Club has played a valued role in offering hospitality to the Royal Navy ships affiliated to the Cinque Ports – HMS KENT being the most recent example – and thereby helping to keep alive the historical relationship the Cinque Ports have with the sea and the important naval role the Confederation once had. And sailors from all parts of the country and the world who visit depart with at least some knowledge of our Cinque Ports’ heritage.
So the Club has very much been a component part of the Cinque Ports for 152 years and I am confident that will remain so as it moves into its next era.
As Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, I have the honour to be President of the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club, following an unbroken and distinguished line of predecessors right back to 1872 when the then Lord Warden, Earl of Granville, became the first President on the foundation of the Club.
Not all Presidents have been sailors, but all have shown an interest in the sea and in the activities of the Club – no doubted prompted in part by the afloat activities of some of the Club Patrons such as George V, Edward VII and HRH Prince Philip!
of the Cinque Ports, Constable of Dover Castle.
Our Club’s History Born from Kings and Queens
The Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club was formed in 1872. The club had strong links with members of the Royal family and gentry, which put it in a very enviable and privileged position.
The Duke of Connaught, our first Commodore, was largely responsible for obtaining the Admiralty Warrant from his mother, Queen Victoria. This means that Royal Cinque Ports is one of just 29 yacht clubs in the United Kingdom permitted to fly the un-defaced Blue Ensign. Members of the club must apply for permission to do so and once granted, protocol dictates that the Blue Ensign must only be flown along with the club’s own burgee, or flag.
A frequent patron of the club in those exciting early years was the then Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII. He had been bitten by the sailing bug and invested in a series of ever-more impressive sailing vessels, which culminated in having Britannia built in 1893. He often raced from our club,
while his mother, Queen Victoria, gave trophies to be contested at our regatta.
Britannia, sometimes with His Royal Highness on board, used to race against similarly impressive boats in a series of events around Britain, with Dover and the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club featuring prominently as one of the highlights in the racing calendar. What a sight it must have been to behold these 200-tonne cutters doing battle in the English Channel!
In 1893, at the RCPYC regatta, Britannia beat Valkyrie, a boat built specifically to contest the America’s Cup, the blue riband event of all yacht racing. The Prince collected the Commodore’s Cup for his victory, which was slightly tempered by the fact that the two boats and another, called the Vendetta, all collided on the way back to port and had to be towed back to Dover.
A newspaper report of the time stated: “When the impact occurred, many of the persons on the decks of the vessels were precipitated into the water, but they were all rescued.”
Photo: Victoria Hendricks
Among those to have visited the club in its formative years were Capt. Matthew Webb, who had a reception held in his honour in 1875 for becoming the first person to swim the English Channel, and Paul Boyton, who is renowned for crossing the same stretch of water with the aid of a somewhat bizarre patented rubber lifesaving suit, an achievement, while perhaps not as impressive as Capt. Webb’s, is said to have “caused the wildest excitement over all the world”.
Modern sailing achievements have also been marked by the Club: Hilary Lister, the only quadriplegic person to circumnavigate Britain, gave a presentation to the Club, and was conferred honorary membership.
The club’s President is the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and former holders of the post include HM The Queen Mother, the Duke of Wellington, Robert Menzies, Prime Minister of Australia, and Sir Winston Churchill. The current Lord Warden, Admiral the
Lord Boyce, KG, GCB, OBE, DL, was installed in 2005, and is a great friend and supporter of our club. On St George’s Day 2011, Her Majesty the Queen created him Knight of the Garter, an award granted to only 23 persons outside the Royal Family.
As for our club’s name? The “Confederation of The Cinque Ports and Ancient Towns” was founded in 1050 by Edward the Confessor. Dover is one of the Cinque Ports, and provided ships and men for the defence of the country, in consideration of which they were granted certain privileges, particularly in regard to taxation. Cinque derives from the Norman French for five and is pronounced “sink” not “sank”.
The club’s original premises were destroyed by fire in 1940. A seemingly disastrous occurrence at the time, but it did lead to our moving to our present outstanding harbour-front location after the Second World War at the invitation of the then owners, an exclusive businessmen’s club known as the Dover Club.
Photo: Victoria Hendricks
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Serving Folkestone, Dover, Canterbury, Ashford, Maidstone, and the surrounding areas.
Cruising
Cruising is an increasingly popular part of sailing life at the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club.
Boats offer a freedom like no other. Simply check the weather forecast, plan your trip, invite some friends, stock up with provisions and take off for a weekend, a long weekend or a whole week. Members sail to the Channel Islands, the West Country or wherever the mood takes them. France is only 21 miles away at its nearest point across the Strait of Doverdifficult to forget when, on a clear day, you can see it beckoning you from across the water!
The Club arranges a varied programme of group-orientated cruising events throughout the year, where members either sail together or meet up at the destination. Often trophies are awarded for “competitive cruising”, allowing a greater opportunity for boats and crews of all abilities to compete for the club’s silverware.
The sailing fraternity is always a very friendly one which generally has two things in common: people with a love of boats and the desire to have an enjoyable time. With Dover’s stunning setting and rich history, it is no surprise that we are a regular port of call for our French comrades and are equally thrilled to visit them across the Channel at every opportunity.
And that is cruising in a nutshell: sociable sailing with the chance to discover new destinations and enjoy new experiences.
Racing
Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club has an active and competitive racing section, and we have a full programme for eight months of the year - from the Early Bird series in March to the Beaujolais Run in November.
Fitting out is usually around mid-March but, by that time, the sailing programme is already under way. The first or second Saturday in March generally sees the start of our Spring Race Series. This is usually five-race series, run over successive Saturdays, with the best four results to count in deciding the series winner for the Joyce Martin Cup.
There are similar racing series in the summer and the autumn. The club’s annual regatta is held in August, and is highly contested on successive days for the prestigious awards on offer. One of the advantages of being a club that dates back to 1872 is our silverware - some truly spectacular. Many of our historic trophies have been keenly fought for over the years by several generations of RCPYC sailors. One such example is the eye-catching Prince of Wales Cup - an imposing trophy we
have proudly on display. It is not contested every year but is an indication of the club’s pedigree and past history.
We employ a handicapping system (ours uses Byron software,www.byronsoftware.org.uk) which makes time adjustments depending on the type of boat being raced. This means everybody starts on an equal footing regardless of their craft, with sailing ability determining the outcome. Those boats and crews just starting out are also given a special club handicap for encouragement and this is then amended according to their successes.
Trophies are presented at the end-of-season Laying-up Supper, which is generally held in the autumn. This is a tremendously popular occasion and one of the club’s social nights of the year.
Sedgemead House
SAME DAY APPOINTMENT AVAILABLE
Our Proposed New Clubhouse On Marina Curve
Due to Dover Harbour Boards plans and change of business strategy, the club is expecting to move to premises on the Marina Curve, Meaningful discussions and planning for the future at the time of pre-printing are on going.
Photo pf the Clubs major events: The large bowl on the left of the clock is the Reading Bowl and on the right the Prince of Wales Cup.
Wording for Clubhouse and Bar: second paragraph to read: The Club is open for refreshment. Opening hours are subject to change according to the seasons, so check our website.
There is a selection of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks, also a varied menu of snacks and meals. The last two paragraphs to stay as they are.
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Sailing
Yacht Clubs, and especially ours, are not confined to those vessels primarily driven by the wind. There are many members whose pride and joy are Motor Boats – the current Commodore flies her flag on one – and there are no dividing lines between what is considered in some Clubs separate fraternities. The unofficial motto of RCPYC is that ‘we are all sailors,’ and during the year there is usually a good measure of exchange of crew members who may wish to sample another aspect of our sport.
And equally a wealth of experience and knowledge is available and imparted amongst us all.
Membership
Our current membership is made up of active sailing or social members. While many of our members live within easy reach of Dover, we have several who travel regularly from farther afield for our activities, and some whose boats are berthed permanently abroad.
Many of our members originally joined because of the warm welcome they received when first entering our premises as guests. Our membership encompasses all ages and all backgrounds.
We offer Individual, Joint and Family Memberships, and our rates remain highly competitive when compared to other clubs in the South of England. While we are proud of our history and tradition, we maintain a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and anyone interested in joining our club is welcome to drop in at any time to look around and have a chat. A member will sign you in and possibly even buy you a drink at the bar!
We have an excellent range of good quality regalia at reasonable prices to suit all tastes. Our logo promotes a spirit comradeship and goodwill amongst members and gives a feeling of belonging to a great club. Bespoke items are also available from our catalogue and boat names can be added at a small additional charge.
Reading Bowl
Prince of Wales Cup
Clubhouse and Bar
The Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club is located on Dover’s waterfront, only 300 yards east of the Marina, and commands a fine view of the busy harbour, ferry port and cruise terminal.
All visiting yacht owners and their friends are welcome as honorary members, and are invited to avail themselves of the club’s amenities during their stay in the town.
The club bar is open for refreshments. Please check our website from opening times.
Opening hours change slightly from summer to winter, so make sure to check our website (www.rcpyc.org.uk) to avoid disappointment.
There is a good range of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks available and, for the discerning beer drinker, real ales are always on tap. We have a wide and varied menu, available daily from 12pm-6pm.
Visitors can relax and unwind, get to know our members, catch up with e-mails and the all-important weather forecast, thanks to the free Wi-Fi the club offers. Weather permitting, the outside deck area provides a delightful spot for a lunchtime drink or a sundowner, watching the ferries come and go.
Visiting yachts and crews are often invited to take part in our various social, cruising and racing activities, by arrangement with a member. So, if you are visiting Dover, please do come in and see us. We are a very friendly club and a warm welcome awaits you.
Photo: Victoria Hendricks
Club Social Activities and Events
We are rightly proud of our sailing heritage at Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club, but you do not have to be skilled on the water to appreciate what our club has to offer.
RCPYC has a rich and varied social calendar and there is a full and interesting programme stretching from January to December. It reflects the diversity of our members and endeavours to include something that appeals to everyone during the year.
We hold traditional festivities to celebrate Christmas and the New Year and host a St George’s Day dinner in April. There are also the popular sailing-related celebrations that you would expect, such as the Fitting-Out Supper in March and the Laying-Up Supper in November. The Trafalgar Day dinner held in mid-October is a particular highlight, with the club and dining tables looking resplendent as befits such an important date in naval history. Our Guest of Honour is usually our President and/or the Dover City Council Mayor.
CLINIC AND BEAUTY
For Those Special Events /Meetings/Conferences & Functions
Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club is a popular choice for those looking for a pleasant venue for their event or function. Our facilities are both extensive and impressive and their versatility allows them to be used for a wide range of purposes.
We have a number of function rooms of various sizes which can be hired for special events, meetings and conferences. Our peaceful, picturesque setting overlooking the harbour makes it a very popular choice as a venue for family occasions. We have regular users who appreciate the comfortable surroundings and friendly service from our House Staff. Hire is available mornings, afternoons or evenings, or the whole day if required and various catering and refreshment options are available.
For more details about hiring the club for a business event or family occasion, please call the club on 01304 206262.
Dover Marina Facilities
There is a wealth of knowledge and experience available in the Dover Marina – from the Marina staff, other berth-holders and local marine tradesmen, who can provide almost every service you may require for your boat.
Full toilet and shower facilities, plus baby changing facilities, are provided 24 hours a day. An excellent and well-stocked chandlery is a five minute walk away, and will supply all your boating needs, from a shackle to a rubber dinghy! For major repairs and maintenance, a hoist with a lifting capacity of 50 tonnes is situated in Wellington Dock.
Dover Marina is a member of TransEurope Marinas, a partnership of marinas offering their resident berth-holders discount mooring fees when they visit other members’ marinas.
Photo: Victoria Hendricks
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Navigational Information
Dover has an Outer Harbour containing ferry and deep-water commercial berths and an Inner Harbour, where the Marina are located.
The entrance is straightforward, but all small craft are requested to call Dover Port Control (VHF 74) when two miles off to receive instructions for entering the port, and permission to enter will usually be granted when your craft is 200m from either the Western or Eastern entrance. The tide can run fast across the entrances, so be sure to allow for this, and keep a careful watch for commercial vessels at all times in this busy port!
Full and up to date information on the Harbour, marina and facilities can be found on the Dover Harbour Board’s website (www.doverport.co.uk) .
DOVER MARINA
Things to Do in Dover
Dover is an ideal destination for those looking for a base to discover all that this historic region has to offer, or as a stopping-off point before setting off for Continental Europe.
As well as the spectacular waterfront panorama and the White (Langdon) Cliffs made famous in song by Dame Vera Lynn (an honorary member), Dover itself has a host of other attractions to enthral visitors. These include:
Dover Castle
The Roman Painted House
The Dover Museum, housing the unique Bronze-Age Boat Gallery
Crabble Corn Mill
Samphire Hoe – a nature reserve built with the spoil from the Channel Tunnel.
The Western Heights, including the Grand Shaft and Drop Redoubt – both built during the Napoleonic period. Just outside Dover is the Battle of Britain memorial and museum at Capel-le-Ferne.
Dover Castle, in an imposing position overlooking the harbour, is fascinating in its own right. Incredibly well preserved, its Great Keep was built by Henry II in the 1180s. The WW2 underground tunnels, the nerve centre for the Dunkirk evacuation, are well worth a visit.
(See English Heritage website for details)
Slightly further afield, the historic cathedral city of Canterbury is only 20 minutes’ away, while the spectacular Leeds Castle is also within easy reach.
For more information, visit www.whitecliffscountry.org.uk and www.visitkent.co.uk
How to Find Us
Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club enjoys a premier location on the seafront overlooking Dover Harbour, and is easily reached by road, rail or sea.
Our position is 51° 07.17’ N, 1° 19.35’ E, while for satellite navigation purposes, our postcode is CT16 1LA.
Contact Us
We look forward to welcoming you to Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club. If you have any questions, or would like further information, then please do not hesitate to contact us.
Telephone: 01304 206262
E-mail: honsec@rcpyc.org.uk Website: www.rcpyc.org.uk
Photo: Victoria Hendricks
