Of the three sub-regions of the ICOYC, the one encompassing Europe, Africa and South America is the largest and the most diverse in terms of cultures and clubs. Among these 22 ICOYC Members, we have some of the oldest yacht clubs in the world, located at some of the most legendary sailing destinations and host to the grandest regattas and international competitions every year.

In Europe alone there are three sub-regions where ICOYC Member Clubs are located: the South, the United Kingdom and the Central/Northern area. Starting with the southern European clubs and from west to east, we have Clube Naval de Cascais in Portugal, a well-known sailing destination that routinely hosts several world sailing championships, such as the TP52 World Championship. In Spain, we have Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona, a two-time America’s Cup challenger, and Real Clube Náutico de Barcelona, which will host the 36th America’s Cup. Our third club in Spain is Real Club Náutico de Palma, yet another legendary sailing destination and host to some of the biggest annual yachting events.

Yacht Club de Monaco

Moving on to France, we have the Société Nautique de Marseille, located in the host city of the 2024 Paris Olympic sailing events. Yacht Club de Monaco brings together over 2,500 members of 81 different nationalities and a fleet that includes many of the most prestigious private yachts in the world.

Yacht Club Italiano

Onward along the coast, we arrive at Yacht Club Italiano (RYCI) in Genoa, home of the Giraglia Rolex Cup and the home club of Prada Luna Rossa America’s Cup challenger. Off the southern tip of Italy is Royal Malta Yacht Club, organizer of the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

Among the northern European clubs, we have three ICOYC members located in the United Kingdom—Royal Lymington Yacht Club, Royal Southern Yacht Club and Royal Thames Yacht Club, which is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the world, founded in 1775. In Ireland, we have the oldest yacht club in the world—Royal Cork Yacht Club, founded in 1720 as the “Water Club of the Harbor of Cork.”

Jumping to central and north Europe, the ICOYC counts five clubs in Scandinavia, two in Germany and one in Switzerland. In Sweden, there is Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS) the oldest and largest yacht club in Sweden and one of the five oldest in the world, and Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club (GKSS), which is one of Sweden’s largest sports clubs with around 2,700 members.

In Denmark is Royal Danish Yacht Club or Kongelig Dansk Yachtklub and in Finland Nyländska Jaktklubben (NJK). Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) is one of the oldest and largest yacht clubs in Germany. Also in Germany is Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee.

Norddeutscher Regatta Verein

In Switzerland, Gstaad Yacht Club was founded in 1996 in St. Tropez and is known for hosting the annual Centenary Trophy regatta for classic yachts during Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez.

Also included in this sprawling region is an ICOYC club based in Africa, Royal Cape Yacht Club, which is one of the oldest and most active yacht clubs in South Africa. In South America, we have two ICOYC Members: Salinas Yacht Club in Ecuador and Yacht Club Punta del Este in Uruguay.

That’s 22 ICOYC Member Clubs across 14 countries and thousands of nautical miles of ocean—what an outstanding display of diversity in cultures, heritages, accomplishments, all joined by a love for the sea as a destination for sporting, recreation and relaxation.