GUERNSEY HISTORY
12th November 1890
12th November 1890
Guernsey Yacht Club was founded
The Board of Trade issued a warrant on 12 November 1890 to the Guernsey Yacht Club. However, it took some time for the club to get itself organised. It had its first outing the following year, on Wednesday 1st July.
Guernsey Post Office issued a series of stamps commemorating its centenary in 1990, in the covering notes for which it quoted an advert that had been placed in The Star announcing the club’s first event:
Company cruise for yachts belonging to the club to be held on Wednesday 1st July starting from Harbour at 3pm. Rowing members are invited to start with the yachts and follow to Ferman Bay where it is proposed to have the fleet photographed. In the evening of the same day there will be a dinner at the Old Government House Hotel – Tickets (excluding wine) 5s. Club uniform shall be considered full dress.
Naturally, the Yacht Club had to suspend its activities throughout the Second World War as boat use was strictly monitored and severely limited during the Occupation. However, it lost no time in resuming sailing following liberation and, in 1946, it picked up exactly where it had left off in 1939 with an announcement of that year’s prize winners.
Moving to Town
In December 1960, the Yacht Club gained agreement from the States of Guernsey to site its premises close to Castle Cornet at the heart of St Peter Port. Twenty years later, that same building was extended to provide better facilities for the growing club.
What had been set up as a very local affair is now world-renowned for the dozens of events it stages every year, including the Guernsey Regatta, which help to bring visitors to the island.
What else happened in Guernsey in October?
Guernsey history newsletter
Check out The Sarnian’s email newsletter for Guernsey history, features, puzzles and pictures. It’s also the first place where you’ll find out about the Sarnian series of books, including sneak previews and discounts.
We will never sell your data to third parties, and there’s an unsubscribe link in every email, so you can leave whenever you like.
Explore Guernsey's history
Or click to view every entry organised by year, from 521 to the present day.
The Sarnian
A body on a beach, an impossible alibi and an unstoppable race against time!
Check out the first book in The Sarnian series, set on the Channel Island of Guernsey.
October in Guernsey through the years…
Sarnian secrets
Sign up to The Sarnian's occasional newsletter for updates on your favourite characters and locations, to go behind the scenes on the writing process, and for early-bird discounts on every new book. We promise not to share your details with anyone else, and you can easily unsubscribe whenever you choose.
