The Royal Canadian Yacht Club was founded in Toronto in 1852 to serve both as a recreational yachting club and, in the British tradition, as an unofficial auxiliary of the Royal Navy in the defence of the waters of Lake Ontario.

The Club was established under the name the Toronto Boat Club, but in 1854 with Queen Victoria's permission, the Club was renamed the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.

Long associated with the Toronto Islands, the Royal Canadian Yacht Club did not move to the Island until 1881, first occupying various locations on the Toronto waterfront. The first Island Clubhouse was destroyed by fire in 1904. Its successor, officially opened in 1906, suffered the same fate: it too was irreparably damaged by fire in 1918. On August 25, 1919, Edward, Prince of Wales, laid the cornerstone for the gracious two-story Southern-style Clubhouse that has been the RCYC's summer home ever since. Today, we are one of CanadaÍs premier sailing and social clubs, with an emphasis on family participation, the development of our junior sailors, and a Corinthian attitude towards excellence in sailing. The RCYC operates year round from two facilities: our summer home at the Island Clubhouse and our City Clubhouse in downtown Toronto.