Royal Temple Yacht Club Brochure 2026 -2027 by Ludis

Royal Temple Yacht Club

OFFICIAL BROCHURE 2026 - 2027

Royal Temple Yacht Club & Ludis would like to thank all of the businesses that appear in this publication for their support and wish them continued commercial success. The content of this brochure is believed to be correct at the time of printing but we cannot endorse individual statements and readers should not rely solely upon the continued accuracy of any individual claims contained herein without consultation with the service provider. Designed and Printed by Ludis 2026.

A warm welcome to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate

We look forward to welcoming you to the UK’s only Royal Harbour which has been welcoming visitors since 1749. Ramsgate is widely recognised for its beautiful architecture, rich history and friendly staff.

Being just 30 nautical miles from the French coast we are on the doorstep of the continent which is illustrated by the numerous cafes, bars and restaurants lining our picturesque waterfront.

As you sail through our historic pier heads we can guarantee you will be captivated by Ramsgate and like many others make it your regular visitor destination. Combining modern facilities with historic construction we offer something for everyone.

See you soon - à bientôt - tot snel - bis bald - Vi ses snart

Matthew Kenney, Harbour Master

2

Port of Ramsgate

Royal Harbour Marina

The Harbour Ofﬁce, Military Road

Ramsgate CT11 9LQ

See you soon - à bientôt - tot snel - bis bald - Vi ses snart

Matthew Kenney Harbour Master

For more information on berth applications please contact the Harbour Office on 01843 572100 or by emailing harbouradmin@thanet.gov.uk

Permanent Berths

Available

We can accommodate permanent berths for vessels ranging from 6m to 24m in length within our inner and outer marinas.

For more information on berth applications please contact the Harbour Ofﬁce on 01843 572100 or by emailing harbouradmin@thanet.gov.uk

Welcome

TheRoyal Temple is a friendly yacht club. We take great pride in our club, its facilities and the great reputation the Royal Temple has earned over the years for its hospitality.

The clubhouse commands spectacular views over the Ramsgate Marina, as well as the Royal Harbour. It is also possible to catch glimpses of the Downs, the Goodwin Sands and South Foreland, as well as the French coast on a fine day.

The club is situated at the sailing crossroads of Europe and it boasts a higher number of visiting foreign yachts than any other in the country. RTYC is always ready to welcome visiting yachtsmen to its facilities and is also able to offer overnight accommodation.

Ramsgate, with its high speed rail links, ferries to Europe from Dover, excellent road links to London and welcoming marina, provides the perfect base or stopoff point for mariners travelling from the south or east coasts, or indeed from France, Belgium or Holland.

“The clubhouse commands spectacular views over the Ramsgate Marina, as well as the Royal Harbour”

“The Club has a full and varied history. It was founded in London on 4th March 1857 by a band of ardent amateur yachtsmen who sailed their small boats from the Temple Pier”

From its vantage point above Ramsgate Royal Harbour, the Royal Temple Yacht Club commands an impressive view across the exciting sailing waters bounded by the infamous Goodwin Sands. The Club is noted for the friendly reception it offers to the many visiting yachtsmen on passage to and from British and European Ports.

The Club has a full and varied history. It was founded in London on 4th March 1857 by a band of ardent amateur yachtsmen who sailed their small boats from the Temple Stairs. Later they raced over courses from what is now the Woolwich Barrier to Dartford Bridge. In 1873 a race was run from Gravesend to Ramsgate and within a few years Ramsgate became the starting point for races to and from Ostend.

In 1896 the Club House opened in Ramsgate, bringing a marked leap forward in fame and fortune. Back in London, headquarters were established at the prestigious Hotel Cecil in the Strand.

In 1897 with Baron Ferdinand Rothschild as Commodore the Club took a new direction particularly in the social scene. Banquets, Charitable Concerts and Formal Dinners attracted attendances of up to 400 distinguished guests - including the Prince of Wales on at least one occasion.

On 18th May 1897 HM The Queen commanded that the Temple Yacht Club be henceforth known as the Royal Temple Yacht Club, the twenty-fifth English Club so honoured and the fifty-first in the world at large. A year later the Admiralty gave sanction for the wearing of the coveted Blue Ensign, undefaced, a unique privilege enjoyed to this day by Club yacht owners.

At the turn of the century the Club’s activities had a noticeable impact on Ramsgate itself. The harbour was alive with visiting yachtsmen; the Regatta attracted over one hundred boats. The Town acknowledged the importance presenting the Gold Town Cup, one of the Club’s major trophies.

In the international sphere additional races were staged off Deal where the Club had a sub-station. The German Emperor’s yacht Meteor was an entrant for the race to Helgoland. On other occasions entrants included the Royal Yacht Britannia and Sir Thomas Lipton’s America’s Cup challenger Shamrock.

War-time saw the Club House play an active role in support of naval operations. Twice during 1917 it suffered bomb damage from zeppelin raids. In the Second World War it accommodated the Mess and Wardroom for HMS Fervent.

“At the turn of the century the Club’s activities had a noticeable impact on Ramsgate itself.”

Post-war brought a new direction in the sailing world. Large boats with professional crew and paid hands were out. The Club responded and fostered relations with the area’s sailing clubs promoting Thanet Sailing Week.

The new direction was becoming popular, cruising as a family pastime was catching on. The Club responded to the requirements that off-shore sailing demanded, the School of Navigation and Sail Training running the full gamut of the Royal Yachting Association Courses.

In recent years, through a dedicated Sailing Committee, the Club has actively promoted and participated in Yacht Racing in both home and continental waters. Thanet Week mushroomed into Ramsgate Week to become one of the major events in the national sailing calendar.

Capitalising on the pivotal role and experience of the Navigation School and the expertise of the cruising and racing fleet the club offers the opportunity to young people classroom and on the water training.

The Royal Temple is proud of its history and its place in the hierarchy of international yachting. It is never slow to emphasise that its prime objectives are, to foster and encourage the spirit of racing and the association of those directly or indirectly interested in yachting; And new members are always welcome.

“In recent years, through a dedicated Sailing Committee, the Club has actively promoted and participated in Yacht Racing in both home and continental waters”

Membership

The Royal Temple is a thriving club numbering approximately 300 members and a real mix of racing, cruising and social members. We actively encourage new members.

Whether your interest is in racing, cruising or socialising there will be something for you at our club.

All members receive regular communications about club events and activities through our bulletins.

We have an all-year-round social calendar. The Royal Temple is a family-friendly club.

Our Trial membership is for people who are new to the area and would like to find a proposer for the first year.

Come into the Club and speak to members, complete an application form available in the club or on our website www.rtyc.com

“The clubhouse commands spectacular views over the Ramsgate Marina, as well as the Royal Harbour”

Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School has a long history of providing high quality education and generations of young people have flourished at the school. Set in the centre of Ramsgate, our 3 sites cater for 11-19yr olds, offering a wide range of subjects at both GCSE and A Level.

All students are encouraged to get involved in school life through the House system and a wide range of extra- curricular activities.

GCSE Results Summer 2025

27% of grades 9-8

47% of grades at 9-7

Overall pass rate 95%

“Pupils are happy and successful at this caring and ambitious school” Ofsted 2025

“Pupils display a sense of purpose and rise to the high aspirations that the school has for them” Ofsted 2025

Racing

Ramsgate

is a superb venue for keelboat racing. We have previously hosted World, European and National Championships including the X-99 National and World Championships, X332 Nationals & Impala National and Europeans Championships.

Our local racing fleet enjoys a full programme from March through to October with races held throughout the season.

During the winter months the Club continues with racing with small yachts through the MYA, which is recognised by the RYA as the governing body of Radio and Free Sailing within the UK.

Yachts can race in 2 IRC classes or the very popular Cruiser classes where the RTYC will provide a progressive handicap for spinnaker or white sail only categories. The Cruiser Class is a great way to learn to race as regular training sessions are held throughout the season to encourage the novice.

The RTYC also regularly support events held in conjunction with our neighbouring clubs on the East and South Coast, as well as those in France, Belgium and Holland.

“Our local racing fleet enjoys a full programme from March through to October with races held throughout the season”

An introduction to Coast Projects

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We pride ourselves on combining traditional building skills with modern construction methods, ensuring historic buildings are preserved, strengthened and adapted to meet contemporary standards. Appropriate materials, proven techniques and thoughtful design solutions are central to our approach, allowing us to protect the character and integrity of every structure we work on.

Attention to detail underpins everything we do. From early planning through to ﬁnal ﬁnishes, our team is committed to delivering work of the highest quality. As a small, locally based company, we are deeply invested in the buildings and communities around us. With heritage skills that are second to none, a genuine passion for our craft, and pride in every project we undertake, we create buildings that are not only functional and compliant, but enduring, respectful and built to last.

Because we aren’t tied to any ﬁnancial product provider, our advice is completely independent and based solely on what’s right for you. Often, our guidance goes beyond products and focuses on smart ﬁnancial planning and long-term management.

You may already have goals and aspirations, but turning them into a clear, achievable ﬁnancial plan can be challenging. Let us help. We’ll work with you to make the most of your resources, manage risk effectively, and move conﬁdently toward where you want to be.

We make no charge for an initial consultation so please call or email us to arrange a telephone discussion or meeting with an adviser.

Cruising

Royal Temple Yacht Club operates an active cruising programme for both sail and power boats. Our emphasis is not so much cruising in company, but company while cruising.

With France visible from the harbour on a fine day we have several foreign ports only a few hours away, some in fact closer than London itself.

Boulogne, Calais, Ostend, Nieuwpoort and Blankenberg are therefore favourite haunts for a quick weekend away and a refill of the larder and wine cellar from what we now term as our local shops.

“With France visible from the harbour on a fine day we have several foreign ports only a few hours away, some in fact closer than London itself.”

Cruising

With extensive cruising grounds on our English coast, ranging from Lowestoft to the Isle of Wight and beyond together with the coasts of France Belgium and Holland, the Royal Temple Yacht Club has an incredible range of choices when it comes to cruising. Each year a programme of cruising is planned with various options given. Here members can join in the whole event or meet up at various ports as they wish. There are no hard and fast rules!

If you are new to cruising there is no better way than joining an RTYC cruise, there is plenty of experience within the Club and our more knowledgeable members are always on hand to help when needed, either in the Clubhouse or on the water.

“At the turn of the century the Club’s activities had a noticeable impact on Ramsgate itself.”

Ramsgate Week

Ramsgate Week is the Royal Temple Yacht Club’s annual regatta and has been running for over 120 years.

Widely recognised as the friendly regatta, with competitors coming from near Europe as well as other sailing clubs around Britain, it is viewed as the alternative to Cowes.

Due to its nearness to the harbour, with berths only a five minute walk away, the Yacht Club provides a central hub for all social activities, allowing competitors to share their sailing experiences over a well-earned pint after racing has finished. When hungry they only have to walk down a few steps to find an abundance of bars and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets.

Ramsgate Week offers racing to suit all styles, catering to IRC racers through to cruisers and from slipping your lines, you are on the race start line within ten minutes.

The famous Round the Goodwins Race kick starts the week and challenges all classes, whilst the Wednesday to Friday races form part of the East Coast IRC Championship.

A full cabinet of trophies are on offer, including the coveted Gold Cup and the QEII Cup, the only yachting Cup ever to be presented by the Queen.

She is not the only famous lady we have hosted, with Dame Ellen MacArthur allowing us to raffle her as a crew member for the Gold Cup, won by French yacht “Duece Follie”.

Check out our website for all information including how you can get involved in sponsoring the event www.ramsgateweek.com.

“Ramsgate Week offers racing to suit all styles, catering to IRC racers through to cruisers and from slipping your lines, you are on the race start line within ten minutes.”

Navigation School

The Royal Temple Yacht Club has been running an RYA affiliated Navigation School for many years and offers a complete range of theory courses for sailors, motorboaters, social members old and new wishing to build upon their navigation skills. Many of our members have learnt their skills from our inhouse Navigation instructors. A number have gone on to become fully professional sailors / Skippers on some of the most luxurious yachts.

The school is run by RYA instructors with many years’ experience, the lectures between them have sailed many sea miles including ocean passages. The love to share adventures (or should that be misadventures?), experiences and any number of mariners tales to help their students gain the knowledge confidence and experience to expand their own adventures.

We offer shore-based courses based at the Royal Temple Yacht Club. The courses run during the winter months from October to March on a Thursday evening from 19:00 to 21:00.

Additional courses such as VHF, CENVI, First Aid and Radar are arranged as required. The school is usually fully subscribed, so please remember to book early.

Come along and meet friends old and new while learning the wonders of navigation, understanding the tides, weather systems and the rules of the sea. The course is designed to give you the confidence to take your yachting adventures further.

“The Royal Temple School of Navigation and Sail Training is run by professionals with many years’ experience”

The Clubhouse

Visiting yachtsman are always welcome to use the club facilities throughout the year. Dress is not restricted. The club has its own dedicated snooker room, which is available to hire per hour to non members. Enjoy an afternoon or evening with your friends.

Our opening hours are 12.30pm-11pm (subject to season)

Accommodation

The Royal Temple Yacht Club presents a number of well furnished ensuite rooms with views over Ramsgate Royal Harbour and the Goodwin sands. Whether your visit is as a member, visiting yachtsman or for business or pleasure you will be able to relax and enjoy your stay at the Royal Temple Yacht Club. All rooms come with free TV’s and WIFI and many have full ensuite facilities.

To make a booking please call +44 1843 591766.

“All room are centrally heated, have Wi-Fi connection and tea/coffee making facilities”

Functions & Conferences

The Royal Temple Yacht Club is a perfect venue for private parties, luncheons, buffets, banquets, wedding receptions and conferences.

The main dining room seats 60 for a sit-down meal or 90 for a buffet-stype meal. For smaller gatherings we can offer our Hold Bar with a dance floor.

The function suites are managed by a dedicated team. We can deliver a full range of services from table and room decorations, through to band and disco hire and themed menus.

For conferences and business meetings, we provide a wide range of presentation equipment, our attention to detail and first class service will ensure that whatever your event it will be memorable for all the right reasons.

For more information please call the Club office on 01843 591766

“The function suites are managed by a dedicated, professional events management team”

Operation Dynamo

In 1939 the Yacht Club was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and became part of HMS FERVENT to manage contraband control in the Channel.

In 1940 with the British Expeditionary Force trapped on a decreasing pocket of land in Dunkirk , the Navy took the decision to launch a flotilla of ‘Little Ships’ to rescue the soldiers.

Only the little ships could get near due to the gently shelving beaches and so requisitioned boats from all along the south coast, some taken without the owners permission, gathered in Ramsgate and set out in May 1940. Expectations were not high with the Government only expecting 8,000 troops to be rescued but in the end 338,000 were saved. Without them the war would have taken a very different turn.

In 1965, Dunkirk Boat owner and TV personality Raymond Baxter arranged for 43 of the original boats to commemorate this event by returning to Dunkirk. The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships was formed in 1966 and every 5 years has returned to Dunkirk. There was no crossing in 2020 due to Covid, and the RTYC became the support club for the event in 2025 and took the lead in involving the whole town. For their part members of the RTYC have received many accolades including Thanet District Council Pride in Place Award, the RYA Guiding Light Award for volunteering and RNLI Excellence in Volunteering Award.