The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (RLYC) is the brainchild of Melewar Group's
Y.A.M. Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah whose passion for sailing led him to build a structure that is today a home away from home for sailors and regular patrons alike. When it was first opened in 1996, it was called the Langkawi Yacht Club. In 1999 HRH Sultan of Kedah who is also the Royal Patron of the Club conferred the "Royal" title, making it the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club.
Since its opening in 1996, the club has positioned itself at the forefront of the rebirth of boating in Malaysia and has grown in tandem with the island’s development, emerging as the heart of sailing and yachting on Peninsular Malaysia’s northwest coast.
RLYC was designed and built to blend into the natural coast line and landscape of the island. Its imposing yet elegant structure is shaped to resemble a ship’s hull pointing towards the open sea and houses the main clubhouse.
Over the years facilities have expanded. It began as a 44-berth marina and now offers 200 wet berths including four berths for mega-yachts. Then, a sea wall was completed in November 2002 to offset the problems of waves from increasing ferry traffic to the island. The distinctive, open-design clubhouse, now features the popular Charlie’s Place Restaurant & Bar and a swimming pool on the bottom deck, and the Captain’s Deck Bar & Grill on the second floor, all with views of the sea and tourist haunt, Pulau Dayang Bunting (Pregnant Maiden Island).
In 2003, RLYC held its inaugural Royal Langkawi International Regatta. Today, after eleven years of successfully organized regattas, honoured by the presence of Malaysia's former prime ministers Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as well as other prominent dignitaries, the RLYC has proudly put itself on the global map as a premier yacht club and marina.
