Lough Ree Yacht Club

The oldest yacht club in the world is The Royal Cork Yacht Club (formerly The Cork Harbour Water Club) which was founded in 1720.

Lough Ree Yacht Club (formerly Athlone Yacht Club) has the distinction of being the second oldest yacht club in the world with its foundation date accepted by Lloyds Register of Yachts as 1770.

Yachting in Athlone and on Lough Ree may have an even earlier history as we know from an advertisement of 1731, recorded by the Athlone born historian Rev. G.T. Stokes, that there was a regatta held in Athlone in the last week of July that year.