The British Virgin Islands Yacht Club was officially formed on: 25 July 1973. Commodore: Peter Wright, Vice Commodore: Tudor Williams, Secretary: Norma Riegels, Treasurer: John Green, Sailing Secretary: Gary Turpin, House Member: Val Steinberg, Powerboat Member: Michael Helm (added a bit later). The initial membership was 76 hearty souls. 28 families, and 19 singles.

The new yacht club started its' infancy with 4 Sunfish for the use of the members. Our first newsletter was published 31 August 1973. Charlie and Ginny Cary, the founders of The Moorings which was in its' infancy then, offered us the use of their recreation room at Fort Burt, and the Club moved there on 9 April 1974. The Club's membership had climbed to 100 by then! Recognition and acceptance demonstrated themselves that year when we became members of the Royal Yachting Assn., and the West Indies Yachting Association. The first Commodore's Annual Ball was held this year at Treasure Isle Hotel.

Soon however, it was realized that a bigger facility would be needed. Little Dix Bay resort had a two story houseboat that they had used for staff accommodations, and they offered to sell it to us. An inspection of the houseboat met with approval, and with what funds we could scrape together, and borrow, the houseboat was ours. The houseboat/clubhouse was brought up into the "Cleaning Hole" that was between the present club's site and the main road.

This clubhouse was named The Anchor Club, and the Angler's Club owned it jointly with the Yacht Club. The Anchor Club was officially opened on the 22d of May, 1975. This Clubhouse became very popular, and the first gala ball was in June of 1975. It hosted the first international dinner, and it was Greek. The new Clubhouse was immediately a huge success, and remained so until Hurricane David (1979) ultimately decided the Houseboat/Yacht Club's fate.

The BVI was represented in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles! The British Virgin Islands is the smallest nation to ever compete in the Olympics. We had 5 entrants in the sailing fleet. Keith and Peter Barker competed in the 470 class, and Robin Tattersall as helmsman along with his 2 man crew of Keith Thomas and Elvet Meyers sailed against the world's best in the Soling class. We all are very proud of the 5 of you, and thank you for "toeing the mark" for our little island nation!

When the Anchor Club was destroyed in the hurricane, Mr. H. R. Penn stepped forward with a 5 year lease on one of his properties in the building between the Waterfront Apartments and The Pub. There were docks to use, and some apartments upstairs too. This brought in some needed revenues to help pay the rent. The official "opening" of this new clubhouse was a party on the 12th of Oct. 1979. After some major renovations, this became a very comfortable clubhouse. Five years later, the docks had deteriorated, and the club had to find new premises again. It mopved back to the recreation room at Fort Burt, with a new housewarming party on 25 March, 1988.

The present clubhouse was completed in 1993. This land is leased to us by the BVI government for 25 years, with an option for an additional 25 year lease. It took only 20 years to finally find a permanent home!