The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club was founded at Erith, Kent in 1872. Over the years, it operated from a number of locations but finally settled at Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex where the ‘Northern’ branch of the Club continues to operate and prosper.
The Club at Burnham has a stable membership of 550 and is well known on the East Coast for organising one design regattas, a cruiser programme and an excellent junior sailing programme called ‘Otters’. More on the history of Burnham can be found on their website – www.royalcorinthian.co.uk/history
In 1948, the Club established it’s ‘Southern’ branch at Cowes in the present Clubhouse. The building has a varied history and started life as a fishermen’s beer house in the 18th Century. In a different guise it gained some notoriety during the Edwardian period. It was operated by Rosa Lewis, a hotelier from London to provide a retreat and ‘entertainment’ for gentlemen visiting the Royal Yacht Squadron.
Tiny Mitchell, Commodore of the Royal Corinthian in Burnham wanted to sail his 6 metre in the Solent and he bought the Club from Rosa's estate, and set up the Southern branch. It was run privately until his death, when the executors sold it to a consortium in the 1960's. It continued life as a private Club until it was sold to a private individual at the end of the 80's.
The new business was very heavily dependent on debt finance and foundered. The Clubhouse was re-purchased from the receiver in late 1992 by a small group of members for the benefit of the Club. The repayment of the financing of that purchase by all the Members was completed in 1999 enabling the Club to become a Members Club.
It is now 12 years since the re-establishment of the Club at Cowes. Many new Members have been added to the core that was previously associated with the Club before this period of interruption. The Club’s sailing programme and events for visiting yachtsmen have developed rapidly and there is great potential for social activity amongst the Members as well as continuing the development of the Club’s use by visiting yachtsmen.
The Cowes branch of the Club has over 800 Members. It’s position, the style of the Clubhouse and its grounds set it apart from the other Clubs in Cowes. It is the favourite spot for relaxing after sailing, and its ambience has also helped it be successful in attracting visiting yacht clubs and classes.
The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club was founded at Erith, Kent in 1872. Over the years, it operated from a number of locations but finally settled at Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex where the ‘Northern’ branch of the Club continues to operate and prosper.