The Royal Norwegian Yacht Club (KNS) was founded in 1883 under the patrons of King Oscar II, at that time ruling over the Union between Sweden and Norway. After the first golden era (see Historical Introduction) the club reached the height of its affluence, as well as having probably the largest fleet of metre boats of all classes in Europe; by the end of the First World War. A reaction soon set in, but the club's yachtsmen competed with extraordinary success in the sailing Olympics at Ostend (1920), Le Havre (1924) and Zuiderzee (Amsterdam) (1928). At the latter, Crown-Prince Olav won the gold medal in the 6 metre classe together with Johan Anker. There were also many successes in the Gold Cup, Kattegat Cup, Øresund Cup, etc.

During the wooden boat era, KNS continued to be the national authority, selecting candidates for international racing, while at the same time being a local club. This changed in 1970, when the Norwegian Sailing Federation(NSF) was founded. Since 1970, KNS has only been a local sailing club, albeit the leading one. The club continues to develop and grow strongly, and still provides candidates for the sailing olympics and other copetitions. SEILAS has been the official organ of KNS since 1906. The clubhouse is at Dronmngen. H.M. King Harald V is Honorary Commodore and has taken a leading part in the club's activities and races, nationally and internationally since his teens.

In 1990, the Norwegian Classic Yacht Club (KTK) was established as a separate entity, but many members of KTK are also in KNS. Its membership journal is called CLASSIC LINES (KlassiskeLinjer).