Lloyd's Register of Yachts online

Over 110 volumes of the historic collection of the Lloyd's Register of Yachts are now freely accessible and searchable for free online and in PDF format across:

• This Register of Yachts page
• Archive.org
• Google Books 

What are the Register of Yachts? 

The Lloyd’s Register of Yachts was first issued in 1878, and was issued annually until 1980, except during the years 1916-18 and 1940-46. Two supplements containing additions and corrections were also issued annually. The information in these supplements were provided by the owner of the vessel and could include changes of ownership, the fate of vessels or detail new vessels.  

All of the Registers contain fields such as:

• Yacht names
• Yacht owners
• Tonnage

Some of the Registers go into more detail and contain fields such as:

• Details of construction
• Dimensions
• Ownership
• Characters of Yachts classed by Lloyd’s Register (LR) and particulars of other Yachts
• Illustrated plates of the Flags of Yacht and Sailing Clubs
• List of Club Officers
• Illustrated List of the Distinguishing Flags of Yachtsmen

From 1981 the publication changed to a Register of Classed Yachts (published until 1996, with some special editions in 1999, 2000, 2002). This contains full particulars of yachts that were classed by LR, together with records of periodical surveys carried out.

Yachts built in accordance with the Rules and issued with a Lloyd’s Register Building Certificate but not classed were also eligible to have their particulars entered in the Yacht Register Book for a period of one year from the date of build. 

Lloyd’s Register also published a Register showing details of American yachts. Named Lloyd’s Register of American Yachts from 1903 to 1977 and renamed North American Yacht Register for its last two years of publication in 1978 and 1979. 

The Lloyd's Register of Yachts adds to the increasing collection of digitised resources on the Heritage & Education website, including the Lloyd's Register of Ships online. 

If you wish to use our resources please ensure that you properly reference the Lloyd's Register Foundation Heritage & Education Centre in your work and consult our Licensing and Terms of use pages.

In the below table, SN & YE stands for Sailing Numbers & Yacht Ensigns