Royal Yacht Clubs announce Mutuality Agreement

The Royal London Yacht Club's team welcomes the competitors on day 1 of Cowes Classics Week © Tim Jeffreys Photography

Closer ties across the Solent

Two prominent South Coast yacht clubs have established a unique "mutuality agreement" allowing members to share each other's facilities and could lead to joint on-the-water events.

The Royal London Yacht Club based on the Parade at the Solent sailing mecca of Cowes, and the Royal Southampton Yacht Club which is focussing its clubhouse activities at Gins, on the historic maritime centre of the Beaulieu River, have established the accord to develop closer ties either side of the Solent — one of the most favoured leisure sailing waters in the country. Both clubs play an instrumental role in the organisation of the world famous Cowes Week regatta.

In a joint statement, both clubs say the agreement is offered in the spirit of one sailor helping another at sea with the RLYC extending a welcome to members of the RSYC to their clubhouse at Cowes, and the RSYC doing likewise to members of the RLYC to their clubhouse on the Beaulieu River.

David Gower, Commodore of the Royal London, and Anthony Knight, Commodore of the Royal Southampton, said: "Members are invited to enjoy the facilities at either clubhouse, including the use of sailing dinghies and canoes at Gins, both as visitors and to participate in selected events to which they will be invited. Members of either club will be able to use the club owned moorings of the other, essentially on weekdays and outside of event regattas, always providing they are not needed for the host Club's members."

Under the agreement the RSYC will be able to hold gala and other events at the RLYC from time to time whether on their own account or jointly with the RLYC.

Both Commodores make it clear that the two clubs, will preserve their separate identities, but will look for synergies in other areas including investigating the viability of some shared administrative services and looking at how their respective race management teams, both of whom work at Cowes Week, can collaborate to improve the racing experience.

The Clubs say the "Mutuality Agreement" will be reviewed in December 2019.