The RNSYS is primarily a sailing club and it is our goal to encourage and enhance the sport of sailing within our membership and community. Home to close to 900 members from Canada, the United States, and international regions, the RNSYS is proud to offer instructional programs and on water activities for all ages, with our learn to sail program being the largest in Atlantic Canada. We also offer many social programs and accompanying facilities to ensure a wonderful experience for all.

Through the Years…

Our beginnings date back to July 1837. Our first clubhouse was built in 1860, the same year the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII visited Halifax. A keen yachtsman himself, he presented us with our most treasured trophy, the Prince of Wales Cup. The Prince of Wales later added his name to the application to Queen Victoria to use the prefix “Royal” to the club’s name. This was approved one year later and we became the Royal Halifax Yacht Club.

The club underwent a great deal of upheaval and change between the years 1875 and 1922 when the RHYC became the present RNSYS, and relocated it’s clubhouse to the breakwater of Halifax Harbour. The RNSYS moved again to make way for the new container terminal in 1966, and relocated to the present property on the Northwest Arm which farseeing leaders of the Squadron had acquired some years earlier.

Throughout the years, the RNSYS has been involved in significant achievements. With the Boston Yacht Club we sponsor the biennial Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race, first sailed in 1939. We were also the club-of-record for the “True North” America’s Cup challenge in 1984, and for “Canada II” in 1987. Our members continue to achieve distinction in national and international competition.

These pictures show the evolution of the clubhouses that have been home to the RNSYS for many years.