XD/72
COFNODION Y ROYAL WELSH YACHT CLUB, CAERNARFON
RECORDS OF THE ROYAL WELSH YACHT CLUB, CAERNARFON
The Royal Welsh Yacht Club was formed in 1847 by a group of local landowners who were enthusiastic sailing men. Chief among them were the Marquis of Anglesey, Lord Penrhyn and Mr. Llewelyn Turner. It is the fourteenth Royal Yacht Club in Britain and one of the twelve oldest clubs in the world.
Papers connected with the clubs formation remained in custody of Llewelyn Turner until his death in 1903 an although a search has been made for them, the documents, including the licence for the designation of a ’royal’ club have not been found.
The thirteenth century twin towers of Porth-yr-Aur were the property of three different estates. Leases of 99 years were secured at peppercorn rents from the three landlords and at considerable expense the founders of the club rebuilt and repaired these towers to form the clubhouse as it stands today.
The collection consists of various administrative papers from Minute Books to Subscription Registers with details of annual accounts, Regatta papers and a collection of printed books donated and collected by the Club and they should present a picture not only of personal and sentimental interest to present day members but an interesting picture of a place of social life with regards to yachts, their owners and yacht racing and through club activities of the whole range of society which would be interesting perhaps to future members too.