What's the RYA done for British boating?

In its 150th year, Laura Hodgetts explores the Royal Yachting Association's evolution from 'gentlemen racers' to a world-leading national boating body

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Launched into a gentlemen-only sailing club era, when Britain's dinghy scene had barely started and yachts were becoming subject to local-specific rules, the Yacht Racing Association (YRA) was founded in November 1875.

Aside from the Royal Victoria Yacht Club-set up on the Isle of Wight in 1845 so that the Queen could be a member - most establishments were 'male only'.

The YRA met a need for an umbrella organisation that would unify the rules covering handicaps of boats depending on their tonnage, and for behaviour afloat.

The association began with just over 120 members, each paying two guineas (equivalent to about £320 today). Despite much support, the detractors were out in force, decrying the efforts to control what was seen as a free sport. However, in 1881, when the Royal Thames Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron became affiliated, it gave the association a greater mandate to put the sport on a sounder footing.

Early responsibilities

A unified set of rules was published at a shilling (5p) a copy and adopted for British waters. The YRA revised the rating rules, which were thought to overly penalise beam. However, the YRA's so-called '1730' rule drove the 'planks on edge' trend, with extreme boats built with an overall length of 40ft-plus but a beam of under six feet -narrower than a Wayfarer dinghy today.

These excessively narrow boats had little value away from the racecourse, and there was concern that it was hampering the yachting scene. So the YRA tasked yacht designer Dixon Kemp to devise more meaningful rating rules which, published in 1886, helped to reset the philosophy with 'owner-friendly' designs.

Testing times