Welcome to the

International Council of Yacht Clubs
 

The ICOYC website provides a window into the world of the leading yacht clubs, with their long histories and fine traditions. Over the past several years, a significant number of these clubs have joined together to form the International Council of Yacht Clubs. This has helped them by sharing their experiences, learning from their successes (and failures), and reviewing the common challenges they face. 

On this website you will find information, news and views about the ICOYC, details of the member clubs, plans for events, and comments on yachting-related developments. You will also find copies of the ICOYC printed newsletters. Full proceedings of world-wide forums and regional conferences are in the pages reserved for signed-in members of ICOYC.  

What's New?

Scroll down to Currents, the bulletin board showing what is new within ICOYC.

A Message from the President of ICOYC

Please enjoy looking around this site. Although the Council is made up of well established clubs with a basis of history and traditions, you’ll find that as a network of organizations we are focused on the future of our clubs and the sport, and are sensitive to how we must evolve to meet the needs of our individual clubs and memberships. Council Member Clubs share an active passion for the sport, similar business models in size and complexity, and a mutual trust that allows us to openly explore our thoughts and experiences, both good and bad, in a persistent effort toward improvement. Those taking part in Council activities are a broad mix of sitting Commodores, junior flag officers, committed sailor-volunteers and past Commodores, many of whom have developed close relationships. We share an understanding of the value of working together, a love for our sport, and a belief in the essential role of our clubs in that sport and our lives. Of course, we also have fun together, and the camaraderie developed among peers around the world is priceless. The Member Clubs generally meet in some fashion a couple of times each year to exchange ideas, do a bit of cruising on occasion, and often engage one to one on a variety of topics and activities. There is something very comforting about being able to chat with someone thousands of miles away who has firsthand experience with the issue being discussed. I hope you enjoy this visit, and will offer your thoughts as well. Contacts may be seen HERE. Fair winds,   John McNeill

Currents - What's New within ICOYC

(updated Friday, June 14, 2013)

A Note to Visitors

Often more detailed material is posted on the private pages of this website. These are only available to members of Council yacht clubs who have passwords. If your club is a member of the ICOYC, and you have some particular interest, please inquire of your club’s ICOYC Representative for information on how to get access to the private pages. 

Members Only - Logon Required For Some Private Pages

Note: The links marked Members Only are password protected and are only available to logged-in members of ICOYC. Comments can be addressed webeditor@icoyc.org
 

La Regata Giraglia Rolex Cup at Yacht Club Italiano	Paolo Caffarena, Yacht Club Italiano's ICOYC alternate rep and an ICOYC director, invites the members of all ICOYC member clubs to stop by the marina in Genoa if they are in the area June 20-22. The club hosts the arrival of the Giraglia Rolex Cup. Paolo said the race is the oldest in the Mediterranean area and this year there are 220 participants, a record number. In their marina, Yacht Club Italiano organises a village where pasta and focaccia are served 24 hours a day. All ICOYC members are invited. Please contact him (Members Only) if you want to attend. You can find more information about the race and the marina location (in English) on the Yacht Club Italiano website, http://www.yachtclubitaliano.it/en.
Why Should Kids Sail?	John McNeill writes "Here's an article from someone involved in teaching kids to sail, and observing the results.  It is directed at parents, and very compellingly explains why sending their children to sail may be one of the most important thing they can do to help develop character. I am passing this on to every parent I know, and hope you will too.  Most of us who started sailing early in life can attest to the excellent points made as a personal experience.  I know I can."
June 2013 Issue of ICOYC Newsletter	Download the eight page bi-annual ICOYC Newsletter HERE. Allison Boyd, Newsletter Editor, has packed the magazine with reports on the regional conferences, a discussion of the Americas Cup races in San Francisco, and a hint of the activities of the forthcoming Commodores Forum in Hong Kong.
Kiteboard Racing North American Championships	The North American championships are being held in front of St, Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco from June 4 through June 7. More details HERE. Watch the regatta live on the St Francis YC's webcam at http:207.150.197.186
Reporting Back to Our Club's Members	A few excellent articles published in member club's magazines are reprinted here. They have done a great job of reporting to all their members about recent Council events. Pleasant reading - just click on the titles:  Royal Hong Kong on Forum and Cruise  Sandringham on the 2012 Forum and ideas brought home  NRV on the Oslo Conference St Francis on the Newport Conference
Nominations Committee Formed and Serving	In accordance with the Nominations Committee Charter, President John McNeill proposed Jack Sullivan of Seattle Yacht Club to serve as Chair of the Nominations Committee. The Board of Directors, at their meeting on May 15/16, approved that appointment and also approved the following as members of the Nominations Committee: Gero Brugmann (NRV), Rex Harrison (Royal Sydney Y.S.), Ragnar Klevaas (Royal Norwegian), Ambrose Lo (Royal Hong Kong) and Geoff Peretz (Royal Vancouver). This group fulfills all of the requirements of the Charter with respect to regions, elected director, and two to four past elected directors or officers. If you have any suggestions as to who we might consider for Officer or Director positions, please let me know at dullboy@seanet.com, Jack Sullivan, Chair
Sandringham Yacht Club wins Australian Club Marina of the Year	Multi-award winning Sandringham Yacht Club has added another string to its bow being named the Marine Industries Association 2013/2014 Australian Club Marina of the Year at the end of April. Read the full announcement HERE.
	KNS, The Royal Norwegian Yacht Club, and KTK, Norwegian Classic Yacht Club, welcome you to a week of racing and social get-togethers and cultural events in 2014. The programme is inspired by the first Europe Week in Norway in 1914, then celebrating the 100th anniversary of Norway, and the next Europe Week in Norway in the year 2000. In July it is still almost midnight sun in our waters and the weather is normally warm and pleasant. More information HERE
You sail like a mom: It’s a compliment, not a put-down	Sailing Magazine published this column by Nick Haynes in the April 2013 issue which discusses the strides of women in all sailing events. PDF.
KSSS Visits St Francis YC	Recently the leaders of the Royal Swedish Yacht Club and St Francis Yacht Club enjoyed lunch together in San Francisco, where the conversation began about the America's Cup, and the KSSS/Artemis Challenge, headed by CEO Paul Cayard, a StFYC member. Talk then turned to ICOYC matters, and the potential for youth exchange programs. Commodores Cascino and Salen agreed that the concept was of interest to their clubs, and could be facilitated with ICOYC involvement. Pictured: John McNeill, VC George Dort, Com. Staffan Salen, Paul Cayard, Com. Jim Cascino
What is a Sailing Club For?	Download this article questioning the purpose of sailing clubs from the Irish Sailing Association's Afloat magazine, 6 March 2013
8th Commodores' Forum - 12-15 Nov 2013	Details on the upcoming Commodores' Forum hosted by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in November can be seen on Forums/Next Commodores Forum. Sign-up now for your hotel!
Nord Stream 2013 Race Announced	The Yacht Club of Saint-Petersburg, Russia (SPBYC), and the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) announce next edition of the Nord Stream Race for September covering more than 800 nautical miles across the Baltic Sea from Germany to Russia. The race will be nonstop and open for Gazprom Swan60 Class and Yachts under ORC handicap. Click HERE for press release.
Developing Membership in the Community!	The Royal Southern Yacht Club is debuting a most creative initiative toward welcoming interested families to become familiar with the local clubs with an 'Open Day' on the Hamble River venue. Read more about this interesting program by clicking HERE.
Summary of 2012 Commodores' Vision Survey	Members Only Early results are in from the Commodore's Vision Survey! Our fellow Clubs seem to have come through the economic situation without severe pains, but are on guard about the next couple of years. Click HERE to see a few of the things they're talking about.
Dinghy Regattas and Safety - A Discussion Paper	For your Race and Junior Committees. This excellent paper from Australia provides a thorough review of safety measures that will surely prompt thoughts for your own club. From ICOYC member Sandringham Yacht Club, sharing information in the Council spirit. Download HERE
Finding and Keeping Young Sailors	An article in WindCheck by Joe Cooper discussing from where young competitive sailors are being found.