A Condensed History 

The first regatta in Durban to be fully reported was planned for the Queen’s Birthday, 24 May 1858, but as there was not enough water it was postponed to the 28th, starting at 3pm, “weather permitting”. The boats were of all sizes and rigs, and divided into 1st and 2nd class. They were not designed for racing, only being used for pleasure. The course was to the Point and back to the judge’s boat opposite the bath house. The boats “were moored in line with their sails hoisted, hauling up their anchors and sheeting home as the gun fired, fouling each other in the process”. The afternoon was an unofficial half holiday and a great number of spectators gathered on the shores of the bay. The fact that there was no rowing match as well was regarded as a great disappointment, emphasising the popularity of this sport.

There was no club house of course, but about 40 yachtsmen gathered together that evening at Thomas Deer’s London Hotel, to dine and jovially review the afternoon’s sport. Later in the year the Durban Regatta Club was formed, and in September a general meeting was held at which rules and regulations were drawn up. In 1863 the club was renamed The Natal Yacht Club. Its activities continued more satisfactorily, helped by the fact that some channels had been surveyed and buoyed. Towards the close of 1890, application was made by the Natal Yacht Club to assume the title “Royal”, and this request was granted in February 1891. The RNYC had a uniform. During the race for the Ross Challenge Cup, not all those taking part were wearing their uniforms, and this was reported with keen regret as a blemish on the whole scene.

Residents at the Point - retired seamen who had served their time in. sailing ships, officers and crews on the cargo boats, skippers and engineers of the Norwegian fishing vessels, and some harbour officials and railway employees - did not want to wear yet another uniform for pleasure. Furthermore, the RNYC jetty opposite Field street, was some distance from the Point, which was actually a separate village, when the only form of transport, if one did not walk, was on horseback or horse-drawn vehicle, or later by rickshaw. How much more convenient to have a club, with all facilities near at hand. 

In 1892 a group of yachtsmen decided to form a separate club, and on 14 May it was announced that the Point Yacht Club had been formed composed chiefly of Point residents. The founder and first commodore of the club was A. Barnes, chief officer of the SS Richard King, and the first vice-commodore was A.E. Douglas. A racing committee was elected composed of Sam Neale, C. Rawlings, R. Clark, A. “Shorty” Goulding and A. Trim, with Percy Williamson as secretary. The club flag was a red pennant with a white cross, [In June 1913, defaced with a representation of the Bluff lighthouse in the first quarter.] and they decided to adopt the rules of the RNYC. The annual subscription was one guinea. 

At first PYC club meetings were held in the Seamen’s Institute - a temporary measure until a club house could be built. In September 1892 the harbour engineer proposed a site in Hospital road near the old coal sheds. Before any­thing could be done, the club had to be moved about 100 yards up the road because of dockside improvements - about 300 yards from the water’s edge. By August 1893 the club; house was completed and furnished, gifts and assistance in. furnishing the club house having been generously given, by Angelo Ohiazzari, J.J. Abbott, William Lord, B. Clark, and the secretary F.A. Dawes. It was opened in September with a “smoker”. This was a very popular form of entertainment - a convivial, men only, get together. First the business of the club would be conducted, e.g. a meeting or a prize-giving’, then the rest of the evening would continue with a concert of various musical items, songs and recitations, often given by the best talent in Durban. 

The club house proved popular from the beginning. It was conveniently situated for members and the tables were well supplied with periodicals and papers of interest to yachtsmen. Later in the year a piano was bought adding to the pleasure of the members. It was also a social club - members did not have to be yachtsmen - and open on three evenings per week.  When considering the turmoil caused to yachting during periods of strong winds, the hope was expressed that one day an enterprising person would lay down moorings for all boats, charging a “moderate rental”. It was looked upon as one of the necessities for making yachting a success on the bay. Many had abandoned yachting as too expensive a pastime after having their boats damaged through the lack of safe moorings and not being able to give them the necessary attention. 

Though yacht owners and the public were very pleased about the fine jetty which had been built near Beach Grove much dissatisfaction was expressed with the disruption caused to yachting and boating by the bay embankment activities. If only a slope of about 100 feet had been made from the embankment to the beach, boats could be laid up for painting and drying. Cato’s creek was also a convenient place for beach­ing and the telephone company was taken to task for its lack of foresight in carrying its lines across the entrance to the creek so that no boat with a mast of more than 18 feet could get through without first dismasting. Thus a valuable part of the bay was cut off. 

In March 1900 the PYC had to find a new site for their club house as the land was required for public purposes. The port advisory board suggested a site 100 feet x 50 feet on the corner of the Ordnance department land. This was a favourable position, though there was some fear that it might in future interfere with the contemplated deviation, of the railway lines. The expense of moving the club house caused a loss of £34 that year.  In 1898 E. Brophy reviewed the progress of the club from its initiation in the cabin of the SS Richard King, when they had “only two old wrecks which they used to race around.”, to the situation where “they possessed a splendid building, a billiard table and a piano”. He recalled how, when it was decided to buy the piano he rode down from the Berea using two rickshaws - the first did not go fast enough - in order to stop an expenditure he regarded as "ruinous" . However he was pleased to have been proved wrong - it was not only a yacht club, but a social club as well and such amenities were greatly appreciated. 

The PYC had hardly been in their new club house six months when they were advised in February 1901 to vacate the site as the land was required for the hydraulic power station. A new site was placed at the disposal of the club close by but only on a squatter’s lease, and the question of a permanent site for a club house was still being discussed in 1903. The committee endeavoured to obtain a long lease for the ground, but was informed that should the harbour scheme be carried out, they would have to vacate the site. They had attended sales of suitable land, but the reserve price had in each case been beyond the financial resources of the club.  The uncertainty in connection with the premises of the PYC was resolved when they rented a site on the wharf near the Transvaal Cold Storage premises in September 1906 at 5/- per month, and work began on a new club house. This was opened in November by H.E. Royal in the presence of about 200 people. The new club house was not large but had been well fitted out, and being at the water’s edge, was more convenient than the previous building. 

By 1915 the war was beginning to affect the country. Club members were away, having enlisted in the forces. During their absence, the payment of subscriptions was waived. Club takings were down and prize money had to be reduced. The position of the club so close to the water’s edge put it in a “closed area". All employees in. the dock area had to have permits to enter. However, there seemed to be no problem for the few club members who wished to go to the club, only some of whom had permits by virtue of their employment. Three years after the start of the war, during a committee meeting in August 1917, the position of members without permits was discussed. It was resolved that the commodore should write to the Dock Commandant Colonel J.W. Carr to have the position clarified. The dock commandant was not sympathetic and the club had to be closed. This did not mean the end of the lease which continued until 28 February 1919 and for which the club had to pay.  

Various suggestions were put forward regarding a new site for a club house.The government then offered a site on the landing jetty close to the RNYC’s judge’s box. After much discussion- this was agreed to, and it was resolved that plans be drawn up and estimates obtained for a building “say 60 ft. x 40 ft.”.  Finally, it was proposed that PYC should ask the Durban Yacht club to join up with them as they had the yachts and the PYC had the money, but with the proviso that the PYC burgee and name be used. This met with the approval of the members and it was resolved that the DYC be approached regarding the matter of amalgamation. At a general meeting on 14 October 1921 the merger was ratified. Then the harbour engineer wrote in December 1921 stating that the request for a site and building could not be granted. Finally a site was granted next to the Esplanade jetty, but the club would not be allowed to have a liquor licence. The building of the club house commenced in July 1922.  Arrangements were soon, in hand for a grand opening on 14 October.

A meeting was convened by the town council on the question of harbour development, the result of which was approval of the linking up of the Point with Congella by means of a railway line along the Victoria Embankment, together with an extension of the wharves, all necessitating much reclamation work which would lead to the club house being built on the reclaimed land - some members preferred that the club house remain in the bay - and the thought of the railway line passing their front door filled members with dismay. 

The commodore, A. McLaverty, kept in touch with the harbour engineer and was told in January 1931 that owing to alterations to the original plans it was unlikely that work would start within. the next two years, and that the club would have ample warning. However, the possibility if not the certainty of the removal of the club house was a drawback to progress. 

In February 1934 the harbour authorities handed over to the Durban Corporation reclaimed land about an acre in extent, for no payment, to be used solely for yachting and boating sports and to be under the joint control of the RNYC and the PYC. The area allowed for the PYC club house seemed to be about 70 feet by 150 feet. Building of the new club house commenced in February 1935 almost three months later than had been hoped. The date of the opening of the new club house was set for 3 August 1935. 

On 5 September 1959, Britain declared war on Germany.  South Africa followed suit a few days later. Durban being a very important port, the closing of the bay area was a foregone conclusion, but there were still to be many meet­ings and discussions between the two yacht clubs and the military authorities before arrangements could be finalised. 

A circular was sent to all members notifying them that the club house would be taken over by the military from 1 August 1940. All members would retain their membership but subscriptions would be suspended until the return of the club house.