A warm welcome to the three South American clubs that recently joined the ICOYC—Veleiros do Sul, Yacht Club Argentino and Yacht Club Peruano. 

VELEIROS DO SUL

Veleiros do Sul was founded on December 13, 1934, in Porto Alegre, growing out of a group of independent sailors—the “veleiros avulsos”—who had begun racing on the Guaíba in the 1920s and gathering at the city’s Bar Liliput. At a founding dinner, the new society was established in homage to the Brazilian Navy, marking Sailor’s Day, with Ewaldo Ritter named its first commodore. It was the first sailing club in Porto Alegre.

In its early years the Club helped lay the foundations of competitive sailing in Rio Grande do Sul, introducing the standardized Sharpie 12m² class to the region so that races could be run to international formats. That pioneering spirit established Veleiros do Sul as a reference point for the sport in southern Brazil, and the Club has since served as a host for major events like South American and World Championships, as well as to the most important regional regattas of Ocean Racers.

The Club occupies roughly 18 hectares on the Baía do Cristal, on the shores of the Guaíba in the Vila Assunção neighborhood, and also manages nearby Ilha Francisco Manoel. Its complete nautical infrastructure makes it a natural harbor for sailors venturing through Brazil’s inland waters.

Today Veleiros do Sul combines a strong competitive calendar with an active sailing school that introduces children, young people, and adults to the sport. The common threads are a love of the water and pride in one of southern Brazil’s most traditional sailing clubs.

YACHT CLUB PERUANO

Yacht Club Peruano was established on June 7, 1938, in the port of Callao located in Lima, as a non-profit civil association with the purpose of promoting nautical sports. The club also has branch in Paracas, located 120 miles south of Callao, expanding its infrastructure within one of the most notable tourist areas of the Ica region.

YACHT CLUB ARGENTINO

Yacht Club Argentino traces its origins to a group of sailing enthusiasts led by Hortensio Aguirre Anchorena, who shared the cutter Ariel and a passion for navigation. In 1882, with former members of the dissolved Boating Society, they established what became the Yacht Club Argentino to promote sailing, seamanship and camaraderie among its members.

A defining moment occurred in 1883 when Argentina’s Attorney General, Eduardo Costa, endorsed the club’s request to fly the national flag. He argued that sailing clubs served the public interest by encouraging physical fitness, outdoor recreation and maritime culture. Inspired by this support, the club was formally founded on July 2, 1883, with Aguirre as its first Commodore.

The club began organizing regattas and cruising events, fulfilling its mission to expand interest in sailing. Following Aguirre’s untimely death, his father donated the cutter Nemo, which became the club’s floating headquarters. For several decades, the club lacked a permanent home and operated from various anchorages. In 1914, the club obtained land in Dársena Norte, where its iconic headquarters was built and inaugurated in 1915. Additional facilities were later developed in San Fernando, Mar del Plata, and Isla Zárate, creating a network of nautical centers.

Yacht Club Argentino promotes values such as fairness, respect for competitors, sportsmanship and ethical conduct. It has earned national and international recognition as a leading organizer of regattas, and the club has hosted world championships in several sailing classes. Through its sailing schools, instructors and training programs, it educates new generations of sailors while preserving a rich maritime tradition.