Forth Corinthian Yacht Club

In 1880 several gentlemen met in a room at the Granton Hotel (now HMS Claverhouse) and formed the Forth Corinthian Club. FCYC yachting started to take shape with the 1887 Portobello Regatta. A method of handicapping was decided and ‘balloon canvas’ (used as a spinnaker) and professional hands were allowed. The Royal Northern Regatta was initiated in 1909. In 1912 a request from the Boy Scouts for an opportunity for yachting and boating was agreed upon, an encouragement to youth that is still with us today. The outbreak of World War I saw the Middle Pier requisitioned. Fishing fleets based throughout the Forth were brought to Granton and stripped of their equipment and converted to minesweepers. By the end of the war only one third of the West Pier was used for commercial purposes. On July 12, 1940, a serious air raid took place after midnight on Granton Harbour. An aircraft dropped over 100 incendiary bombs, most of which missed their mark. Though a female clubmaster was installed in 1916, the ladies of 1952 were requested to leave the lower bar. A proposal for a ladies section was strongly opposed. By 1954 there were still no female members. It would not be until 1959 that ladies interested in sailing were allowed the use of the Granton premises, the club dinghy and the courtesy of Royal Terrace (the clubhouse) for £1. The ladies race appeared in 1960. In 1967 the Club obtained a lease from Buccleuch Estates for premises at 1 Granton Square which was the club home until 2012. Since then, we’ve a acquired a yard at the far end of Middle Pier where we have our clubhouse (The Bell Block), showers and toilets.