ICOYC Americas Conference 2022

New Orleans was founded in 1718 by French colonists and was once the territorial capital of French Louisiana before being traded to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. In the mid-1800’s, New Orleans was the third largest city in the United States due to its ideal transportation location at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Today, New Orleans is renowned for its distinct music, cuisine, history, and architecture. The historic heart of the city is the French Quarter, known for its French and Spanish Creole architecture, vibrant nightlife, art galleries, antique stores, and excellent restaurants. The city’s location and flat elevation make it vulnerable to flooding, so the city is protected by a complex system of levees and drainage pumps installed by state and federal authorities.

Established July 21, 1849, Southern Yacht Club is the second oldest yacht club in the United States. SYC is located on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain, a brackish estuary covering an area of 630 square miles with an average depth of 13’. Over the years, SYC sailors have won four Olympic Medals and numerous national and international championships, most recently the 2021 NYYC Invitational. SYC’s current clubhouse opened 12 years ago after destruction of the previous clubhouse by a massive fire in the hours following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Through more than 170 years of prosperity and adversity, the club maintains a tradition of keen competition, sportsmanship, and eponymous hospitality.