The Sydney Amateur Sailing Club was founded on 1 October 1872, starting with four boats and twelve members.

[1] It was formed in response by owners whose boats were too small (less than 22 ft (6.7 m)) to be admitted into the existing yacht clubs.

[8] Upon European settlement in 1788 the area became known as Careening Point and HMS Sirius was refurbished in the bay in 1789.

Since 1972 the club regularly hosts Gaffers Day for gaff rig sailing boats.

Up to 90 yachts from around Australia sail on Sydney Harbour as a practical demonstration of the skills and technology used in the nautical past.

Unique to Sydney, the club continues to foster wooden boats and traditional rigs that make them so distinctive.