---

What is the Shellback Club?

The Shellback Club officially started in February 1934 and met at Eileen Bradley’s Tea House on Adelaide Street but had its roots earlier. Starting in 1924, some of the crews of large racing sailboats from RCYC met weekly in the summer to organize crew duties.

By 1934, these crew meetings had morphed into The Shellback Club as other sailors from clubs in the area liked the idea of sharing lunch and sailing lore . . . and even singing a shanty.

The Shellbacks meet most weeks (see schedule) in the non-sailing season at the National Yacht Club, 1 Stadium Road. Meetings are simultaneously held on Zoom. We start promptly at 1115 hours and finish about 1230 – 1245 hours. The guest speaker starts about 1130 hours. Come early to enjoy the company and a beverage.

Traditionally, to be a “Shellback” only requires attending (or virtually attending) a lunch meeting and joining everyone in singing a sea shanty. We have found some great shanties online for our ZOOM sessions.

---