Royal Natal Yacht Club Durban is one of South Africa’s most historically significant and celebrated sporting and hospitality institutions — the oldest yacht club in Africa and the oldest in the southern hemisphere, established in May 1858 and situated at the Yacht Mole in Durban Harbour, KwaZulu-Natal. With a heritage stretching back more than 165 years to the earliest days of colonial Durban (then known as Port Natal), the Royal Natal Yacht Club Durban has been a cornerstone of the city’s social, sporting, and maritime identity — and today remains as vibrant and welcoming as ever, open to the general public as well as its proud membership.

References to yachting on Durban Bay appear in settler diaries dating from the 1840s — a decade before the club was formally constituted. In May 1858 the Durban Regatta Club was formed to host Durban’s first official sailing regatta. It became the Natal Yacht Club in March 1863, and in 1891 received its coveted Royal Charter — the eighth club in the world to be so designated — and became The Royal Natal Yacht Club. The club’s current home at the Yacht Mole has been its base since 1990.

The Venue — Britannia Room & Lower Deck

Royal Natal Yacht Club Durban offers two distinct and celebrated hospitality venues, both open to the general public:

The Britannia Room

Situated on the upper level of the clubhouse with panoramic views over the Durban Marina and harbour:

• One of the finest harbour-view dining rooms in KwaZulu-Natal
• The Sunday carvery lunch is legendary — consistently celebrated as one of the best in Durban
• Famous for serving a superb Indian curry — a nod to Durban’s rich culinary heritage
• A venue for private functions, celebrations, and the club’s social events calendar
• The perfect setting to watch yachts gliding through the harbour over a leisurely lunch

The Lower Deck

The club’s more casual dining and social space:

• Breakfast from 7AM — an early morning institution for harbour-side dining
• Praised for serving the best fish and chips in Durban — a bold claim, widely agreed upon by regulars
• Informal, relaxed atmosphere with direct waterfront connection

A Heritage Unmatched in African Yachting

The Royal Natal Yacht Club Durban’s 166-year heritage encompasses some of the most extraordinary chapters in African sailing history:

The founding story: The first regatta was held on Durban Bay in May 1858 — a half-day holiday was granted to allow the whole town to attend. The bay at the time was largely sandbanks and mangrove swamps, and the boats were not designed for racing. Nevertheless, the event was so successful that it was repeated, and the Durban Regatta Club was formally constituted. By 1859, 12 boats took part in the regatta — and an appeal had to be made to the public to keep their pleasure boats clear of the course.

The Royal Charter (1891): In 1891, the club received its Royal Charter — making it the eighth Royal yacht club in the world. The first clubhouse was a practical “wood and iron” construction measuring 9 metres by 6 metres, costing £150 to build, with a further £20 spent on furniture.

The Fenton Lane era (1900–1990): In 1900, a new clubhouse was erected on the corner of Victoria Embankment (now Margaret Mncadi Avenue) and Fenton Lane — the RNYC’s home for the next 90 years. In 1990, the club relocated to its current Yacht Mole position, finally giving it direct access to the water.

Sporting achievements:

• More Olympic Games representatives than any other South African yacht club
• Multiple wins in the prestigious Lipton Cup Challenge
• 1994 Fireball World Championships won under the RNYC burgee (Martin Lambrecht and Alex Langhom-Love)
• Anthony Steward sailed the world’s smallest open yacht around the globe under RNYC colours
• Jeff Hilton Barbour — blind yachtsman who sailed single-handed from Durban to Fremantle, Australia, under the RNYC burgee

Sailing at the RNYC

The Royal Natal Yacht Club Durban is an active racing and cruising club with a full sailing programme:

• Wednesday evenings (summer): Sundowner sailing — a beloved mid-week tradition
• Saturday afternoons: Dinghy racing
• Sundays: Keelboat racing
• Youth and development sailing programmes — making significant contributions to growing the sport
• Racing, cruising, and social facilities on the Eastern Seaboard of South Africa

Open to the Public

Unlike many private clubs, Royal Natal Yacht Club Durban is open to the general public — not members only. Visitors can:

• Enjoy a meal or drinks in the Britannia Room or on the Lower Deck
• Experience the grandeur of the historic harbour setting
• Watch yacht racing from the clubhouse
• Attend special public events on the club’s social calendar
• Sit with a gin and tonic watching yachts in the harbour in KZN’s subtropical warmth

Practical Details

• Address: Yacht Mole, Durban Harbour, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 4001
• Website: rnyc.org.za
• Established: 1858 (as Durban Regatta Club)
• Royal Charter: 1891 (eighth Royal yacht club in the world)
• Distinction: Oldest yacht club in Africa and the southern hemisphere
• Current location: Yacht Mole, Durban Harbour (since 1990)
• Lower Deck breakfast: From 7AM
• Britannia Room: Opens from 11AM
• Sunday carvery: Legendary
• Open to: General public and members
• Best for: Sunday carvery lunch, harbour-side breakfasts, private functions, sailing events, wedding receptions, corporate events, sundowner drinks, Durban heritage experiences

For venue bookings and event enquiries, visit the official Royal Natal Yacht Club website.

Also explore other popular waterfront and heritage venues in Durban or browse KwaZulu-Natal event venues on Event Venues SA.