Around 1896, a small group of gentlemen resident in Malta and owning as a syndicate a 30-ton cutter called the "RHODA", formed an association which was commonly known as the Rhoda Sailing Club At first, their interests were primarily in cruising, but later on, races were staged for sailing dinghies and small local craft, which attracted other enthusiasts who were not members of the original syndicate.

[1] The Mediterranean Skiff Club remained in existence until 1916 when it was wound up owing to the majority of its members being on active service.

This led in 1930 to the two clubs amalgamating under the title of the senior body, with the declared policy of providing a common meeting ground for the Maltese and English sections of the community, and to this end, the building of premises suitable to the Clubs' activities.

Fort Manoel, completed in 1755 by the French military engineers René Jacob de Tigné and Charles François de Mondion, has a remarkably fine design and a most impressive gate, which is clearly visible from Marsamxett Harbour; originally the complex housed some 500 soldiers.

In 2008, the Commodore of the Royal Malta Yacht Club, Mr Georges Bonello DuPuis, finalised the deal with Government to move out of Fort Manoel into the old Customs house in Ta' Xbiex.