Early activities included an annual regatta which was located around the hill in Hillquarter townland. This hill gave the organising committee a viewing position from which they could review the progress of the yachts. Other events appear to have involved a rendezvous at some agreed place and a cruise in company in the manner of a naval flotilla but racing eventually developed. From these incidental activities an organisation in the form of a club was established. Originally it was known as Athlone Yacht Club and was renamed Lough Ree Yacht Club in 1895, probably due to the financial difficulties which had been run into over the previous years. By this time most its members sailed out of a small, sheltered bay at Ballyglass, on Lough Ree itself; Ballyglass is recorded as the venue of the Annual Regatta as early as 1836.