Sailing Through Time exhibition - 200 years of sailing history
Opening of the ‘Sailing through Time’ exhibition by the President of Singapore.
History Ink was delighted to have been chosen by the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club (RSYC) to help celebrate their Bicentennial Anniversary. The RSYC was founded in 1826, just a few years after the British established a settlement in Singapore, a legacy that distinguishes it as the oldest yacht club in Asia. Over the past two centuries, the Club has evolved from its colonial beginnings into a thriving Singaporean institution, with its history closely mirroring the nation's development. This evolution is reflected in its patrons, who have ranged from British royalty to Singapore's presidents, making the Club's story a unique window into Singapore's past.
History Ink was commissioned to develop a ‘Sailing Through Time’ exhibition that would bring the Club's 200 years of history to life. The permanent display is situated in the lobby of the clubhouse and was opened in February 2026 by the President of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
Research and Archival Work
In-depth research for the exhibition, conducted by Dr Amelia Allsop and Luke Kiely, drew upon a combination of the Club's published history and its extensive archival collections. A key source was Peter Dunlop's book 'The Three Burgees', which provided a full account of the RSYC's history and was particularly valuable for reconstructing the Club's early years. This was especially important because the Club was temporarily disbanded at the end of the nineteenth century, resulting in the loss of its earliest records.
Additional details were then uncovered in the Club's archives, which held minute books, annual reports and newspaper clippings dating back to the Club's revival in 1919. Alongside these official records, personal letters from former RSYC members offered firsthand glimpses into club life. Drawing from this wealth of material, History Ink created a narrative for the exhibition that was both personal and historically accurate.
History Ink also developed an archive of digital assets for the Club. The team digitised and catalogued hundreds of images, with the resulting digital archive used to select and identify photographs for the exhibition.
‘B’ class yachts racing with hardly any wind, 18 March 1926. The yacht in the centre of the image is Ned Holiday’s Irene. Holiday first became Commodore of the Club in 1941. Photograph copyright of the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club.
Exhibition Design
The exhibition was designed by Oxygen Design Studios in close collaboration with History Ink. We utilised an innovative timeline design to highlight milestones and showcase visual moments spanning two centuries of Club life. The exhibition's distinctive navy blue colour and wave-inspired design also reinforced the Club's sailing identity.
A visitor reads about the Club’s early years.
The second part of the exhibition focuses on the Club’s more recent history.
Interactive Digital Displays
Recognising that the Club's membership is made up of young families, we also incorporated interactive features to make the exhibition engaging for all ages. For example, a digital interactive kiosk was installed, allowing visitors to explore a curated collection of Club photographs. This kiosk gave members the opportunity to swipe through their Club's history and experience all of its different eras.
Digital interactive kiosk containing a collection of RSYC historical photographs.
Selfie Wall and Exhibition Film
A selfie wall featuring historic clubhouses was created as an engaging backdrop to encourage visitor participation. Alongside it, a large-scale map highlights the locations of the Club’s former premises. The display was complemented by a seven-minute exhibition film, produced by Megan Lee and scripted by History Ink, which combined oral history interviews recorded by History Ink with archival photographs. The film brought the Club's history to life, giving members a vivid sense of how the RSYC has evolved over the years, and was screened at the VIP dinner attended by the President of Singapore.
To the left is a map highlighting the locations of the Club’s former and current clubhouses, while the Club’s selfie wall can be seen to the right.
A still from the exhibition film.
Opening Night
The Club celebrated its 200th anniversary in style with a historic Bicentennial Charity Gala Dinner on 7 February 2026. The black-tie event raised an incredible $326,000 for The President's Challenge. Sharing this milestone with the RSYC community was truly meaningful for the History Ink team.
Ceremonial cake-cutting by President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education and MP for West Coast–Jurong West GRC Mr Desmond Lee, RSYC Commodore Balakrishnan B, RSYC Vice Commodore James Yeo, and RSYC committee members.
We are grateful to the RSYC's committee and staff for their trust and collaboration, and it was an honour to help celebrate this special milestone in the Club's history.