History
Foundation

Founded in 1957, the history of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club is, virtually, the history of yacht racing, sailing and cruising in Thailand. With Walter Meyer as the first Flag Commodore and Prince Bhisadej in charge of the sailing programme, the Varuna Marine Club opened at a beautiful seaside villa “in a Pattaya”, recalls Walter, “of about 20 fishermen”. The new club was located next to the only restaurant, at the southern end of Pattaya strip. The journey from Bangkok in those days was a marathon drive of up to six hours, with a car ferry across the Bang Prakong River. The first race recorded was around an uncluttered Pattaya Bay of sparkling waters, where a motley fleet of Enterprises, Ospreys, a “prawn dinghy”, a 7-metre ‘folksboat’ and even a sailing canoe raced for the “Varuna Marine Trophy”. The first national championship recorded in the Kingdom was the Enterprise Nationals, held at the Varuna Marine Club in 1962.

Royal Patronage

No doubt the popularity of sailing in Thailand was greatly enhanced when His Majesty the King and some other members of the Royal Family participated in club events, having been introduced to the sport by Prince Bhisadej. The great highlight for the Club was to come on April 26, 1965, when His Majesty the King bestowed Royal Patronage and the Varuna Marine Club became the Royal Varuna Yacht Club. Slowly but surely, development began to overtake Walter Meyer’s pristine Pattaya and it was during third Flag Commodore Lowry’s tenure that the decisionwas made to move the Club from its “home” in South Pattaya.

Move to present location

The fourth Commodore, Rachot Kanjanavanit, secured the present site – no doubt one of the most attractive locations on the entire Eastern Seaboard. In October, 1967, the Club moved “over the hill” to what many thought at the time was a “wilderness, with no power, no water supply and no amenities”. Thirty-seven years on, we see the legacy of these early members around us. The new clubhouse formally opened in 2003 by Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn looks confidently towards the next 50 years as the home of sailing in Thailand.

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