Recreational sailing was a popular pastime among Europeans in colonial Singapore, with sailors establishing the Singapore Yacht Club in 1826, just seven years after the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles on the island. However, it was not until 1920 that a permanent clubhouse was erected at Trafalgar Street in Tanjong Pagar for members to gather and share their sailing experiences. In 1922, the club was renamed the Royal Singapore Yacht Club (RSYC) after gaining the patronage of the Prince of Wales. One of the premier sailing events in the 1930s was the annual Interport Challenge Cup, which attracted participants not just from the RSYC but also sailing clubs in the Dutch East Indies, such as the Batavia-based Koninklijke Bataviasche Jacht, which competed in the 1934 edition.
