Overview
The Royal Torbay Yacht Club stands on Beacon Terrace just above Torquay harbour, in a clubhouse built as a club in the 1850s; it dates from 1863, became the Royal Torbay in 1885 when it merged with the Royal Torquay Yacht Club, and its members may fly a defaced blue ensign. Tor Bay gives the club a sheltered open-water course, and it is one of Britain's busiest championship venues: in 2026 it hosted the B14 Europeans and Worlds, the Fireball UK nationals, Solo, RS200 and RS500/700/800 nationals, and in 2027 it brings back the SB20 World Championship. Each August it runs the Torbay Royal Regatta, each June an Offshore Week across the Channel to Guernsey, Brittany and Jersey, and through the season IRC, cruiser (SWYTC), sportsboat and dinghy club racing. It runs RYA training courses and a junior fleet progressing from RS Tera and Feva to 29er and 420; visitors berth in Torquay harbour or the marina below the club.
- Founded
- 1863
- Federation
- Royal Yachting Association
- admin@rtyc.org
- Phone
- +44 1803 292006
On the water with VesselSOS
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Regattas and series
Run or hosted by the club, per the club website. Dates and notices are on the club site.
- Torbay Royal Regattathe club's August regatta; 2026 edition 21–24 August with the J/24, RS21 and Impala nationals and the IRC South West Championship
- RTYC Offshore Weekten-day cross-Channel offshore series: Torquay – St Peter Port (Channel Race) – St Cast – Dahouet – St Quay – St Helier – St Peter Port; 19–28 June 2026
- SB20 World Championship 20273–11 September 2027; the club also hosted the 2011 SB20 Worlds with 103 boats
- B14 European & Global Championships 202617–26 June 2026
- Fireball UK National & UK Open Championship 202620–24 July 2026
- Solo National Championship 20265–9 August 2026
- RS200 National Championship 202614–20 August 2026
- RS500, RS700 & RS800 Nationals 20263–6 September 2026
- K1 National Championships 202617–20 September 2026
- Torbay Invitational Regatta
- Smugglers Runcoastal race to Teignmouth, part of the Torbay and Dart Combined Clubs Series
Live map, a start clock on every phone and results — when the club runs a race on VesselSOS Racing, it shows up here. Racing is a pilot with clubs for the 2027 season.
No race running right nowSee VesselSOS RacingSailing school and courses
Boat classes
History and achievements
- 1811First record of a sailing race in Tor Bay, advertised for 11 September
- 1863On 19 August a meeting founds the Torbay and South Devon Club, which buys the purpose-built clubhouse on Beacon Terrace
- 1875The Torquay Yacht Club is formed, gets an Admiralty warrant for the defaced blue ensign and a Royal Warrant as the Royal Torquay Yacht Club
- 1885On 1 January the two clubs merge as the Royal Torbay Yacht Club
- 1886The club holds its first regatta
- 1934America's Cup trials are sailed in the bay; six J-class yachts race in Torbay in 1935
- 1937International Coronation Regatta with 292 yachts
- 1948The Olympic sailing races are held in Torbay
- 1961The Torquay Corinthian Yacht Club amalgamates with the club
- 1964A crew of members sails the Dragon for Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing fourth
- 1993Members of the neighbouring Torquay Rowing Club become club members
- 2011The club hosts the SB20 World Championship with 103 entries
Location
- Position
- 50°27.49′ N 3°31.43′ W
50.45825, -3.52378 - Address
- 12 Beacon Terrace
Frequently asked
Can I learn to sail here?
Yes. The club lists these courses: RYA training course dates and bookings.
When was Royal Torbay Yacht Club founded?
In 1863.
Which regattas does the club run?
According to the club website, among others: Torbay Royal Regatta, RTYC Offshore Week, SB20 World Championship 2027 and B14 European & Global Championships 2026.