The club was formed in the late 1800's and sailed yawls and skiffs until the late 1940's when Merlin Rockets and other 'class' dinghies made their appearance.  The first ever Orkney Regatta was held in 1889.

Members used to meet at a local hotel until the early 1970's when the present clubhouse "The Girnel" was bought and converted from a store into a bar and small dance floor on the middle floor.  The top floor was initially used by the local Sea Cadet Corps.  The Sea Cadets bought the old RNXS headquarters at Scapa and moved out to their new facility in 1997.  The top floor of the Girnel is now used as a games hall (darts and pool) and for larger social functions .

The name Girnel comes from the building's original purpose.  It was built in the 1600's for storing the Earl of Orkney's rent corn from the northern islands and is one of Kirkwall's oldest buildings.  The Girnel had also been used by members of the club prior to the 1970's, for instance some of the Snipe dinghies used by Holm Sailing Club and the Caithness Club were built in the Girnel by local carpenter Leslie Wylie.  Leslie was also responsible for building some of the early Rocket dinghies used by Orkney Sailing Club.