2024 EUROPEAN + SOUTH AMERICAN CONFERENCE
September 15-18, 2024
Hosted by Royal Canadian Yacht Club
Highlights from the 2024 European + South American Conference
On May 16-18, 2024, ICOYC’s 10th European & South American Regional Conference was held at Royal Swedish Yacht Club’s facility in Sweden. Nearly 50 delegates attended, representing 22 ICOYC Member Clubs: Clube Naval de Cascais, Chicago Yacht Club, Cruising Club of America, Gstaad Yacht Club, Long Beach Yacht Club, Monte Real Club de Yates de Bayona, Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, Nyländska Jaktklubben, Real Club Nautico de Barcelona, Royal Danish Yacht Club, Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club, Royal Malta Yacht Club, Royal Norwegian Yacht Club, Royal Southern Yacht Club, Royal Thames Yacht Club, Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Salinas Yacht Club, Societe Nautique de Marseille, Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee, Yacht Club de France, Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Punta del Este.
This conference set a new standard for sustainability, with all conference materials provided in digital format and presentations shared amongst the group via Dropbox. “The social aspects were amazing. At the last night all were singing and toasting and we closed down the hotel bar. All in all, brilliantly executed and should be a model for all future Forums and Conferences,” raved Leif Sigmond, ICOYC President, Chicago Yacht Club.
RECAPS & SELECT PRESENTATIONS
Session 1: Welcome & Agenda
ROYAL SWEDISH YACHT CLUB representatives welcomed attendees and reviewed the agenda for the coming days.
Session 2: Olympic Pathways: From Optimist Sailing to Olympic Medals
ROYAL VANCOUVER YACHT CLUB presented their three-year strategy for building out their fleet to support more high-performance sailing opportunities and create pathways for training and racing opportunities from juniors through to adulthood.
VIEW PRESENTATION >>
Session 3: Yacht Club Operations
ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB presented key administrative tools they rely on to manage member relation and handle crucial systems such as invoicing, member billing and employee relations.
VIEW PRESENTATION >>
CLUBE NAVAL DE CASCAIS outlined the various types of communications they use, from analog to digital, to reach members.
VIEW PRESENTATION >>
GSTAAD YACHT CLUB described when various administrative functions are handled by staff versus volunteers and how the two groups coordinate. They also outlined the functionality of the various digital tools they employ.
VIEW PRESENTATION >>
YACHT CLUB DE MONACO recently launched a custom mobile app. They outlined the first-generation features and their plans for future functionalities.
VIEW PRESENTATION >>
Session 4: Partners and Commercial Value Propositions
SOCIÉTÉ NAUTIQUE DE MARSEILLE partnered with V2E on two endeavors to improve sustainability awareness among local sailors.
VIEW PRESENTATION >>
VEREIN SEGLERHAUS AM WANNSEE presented how to frame partnerships with outside organizations to help the club achieve its economic, social and environmental sustainability goals.
VIEW PRESENTATION >>
Session 6: Membership
CHICAGO YACHT CLUB presented several strategies they’ve deployed over the years to attract and retain members and emphasized the importance of a strong marketing plan.
VIEW PRESENTATION >>
Session 7: Rose and Thorne
ROYAL VANCOUVER YACHT CLUB’s Brian Angus moderated a fun discussion on clubs’ worst mistakes and best moments in recent years.
Session 8: ICOYC’s Future
All participants engaged in a hearty review of the organization’s strengths and weaknesses, including how it’s fulfilling its mission and where it’s coming up short.
VIEW PRESENTATION >>