Royal Yacht Squadron to admit women as members for first time in 198-year history

For nearly 200 years it has enforced its strict men-only rule so rigorously that even the Queen, its patron, was once denied entry by the main door.

But the Royal Yacht Squadron, perhaps the world’s most prestigious sailing club, has now voted to allow women to become members for the first time in its history.

The move means that Dame Ellen MacArthur, the record-breaking long-distance yachtswoman who lives just minutes away from the exclusive club on the Isle of Wight, will finally have full rights to join.

After discussing the issue for four years, the Royal Yacht Squadron held a meeting on Sunday at which the question was debated.

The session was attended by 150 of the 475 members, who voted unanimously in favour of the motion to extend membership privileges to women.

The yacht club, which established its “gentlemen only” rule when it was founded in 1815, is housed in Cowes Castle and boasts the Duke of Edinburgh as its Admiral as well as the Queen as its patron.

In keeping with the Royal Yacht Squadron’s reputation for discretion, it has declined to make any comment on the membership vote.

Leading figures in the sailing and sporting worlds welcomed the move, although some suggested that it was long overdue.

Rod Carr, the head of UK Sport and former chief executive of the Royal Yachting Association, said it was an “anachronism” that leading British sailors like Dame Ellen and Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson were not allowed to join the club if they wanted.

“It is so obvious and right that women should not be barred from being full members of prestigious clubs in any sport so I welcome this. About time too,” he said.

Lucy Macgregor, the British sailor who competed in the match racing event at London 2012, added: "I know a lot of women who are already very active at the Royal Yacht Squadron so I'm not sure how much this will change anything, but it is an important step on the road to women becoming higher profile in sailing."

Although there were no votes against allowing women to become members of the Royal Yacht Squadron, the decision still has to be ratified by the full membership in the spring.

However, it will remain just as difficult as ever to gain entry to the club, which in 1826 started the yacht races that became Cowes Week.

The only stated requirement is that members must be “actively interested in yachting” but in practice only people from elite professions with a certain social standing and wealth are invited to join.

The club has had close links to the royal family since the Prince Regent became a member in 1817, and Princess Anne, a keen sailor, is among the favourites to become one of the first female members.

Dame Ellen was not available to comment on whether she would be seeking membership.

The Royal Yacht Squadron’s decision comes after Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond boycotted this year’s Open Championship at Muirfield because of the club’s policy of not allowing women to become members.

Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A, golf’s governing body, said last month that his organisation would reluctantly reconsider the issue of men-only clubs.