Yacht clubs
The institutions behind traditional and competitive sailing, zone by zone: history, flagship events and local roots.
Yacht Club de France
Paris · founded in 1867
Senior nautical club of France, founded in 1867 under the patronage of Napoleon III. Headquartered at 41 avenue Foch, Paris. Manages the IRC rating system and federates around seventy allied clubs internationally. Organizes the Coupe de France (France's oldest nautical trophy) and the Spring/Autumn Cups in the Mediterranean.
Photo: CVB (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
La Rochelle Nautique
La Rochelle · founded in 1860
Created in 2021 from the merger of the Société des Régates Rochelaises (SRR, founded in 1860) and the École de Voile Rochelaise (EVR) sailing school. Based at Port des Minimes. Sailing courses and camps for all ages, racing, cruising, a Yacht Club social space.
Photo: Jean-Pierre Bazard Jpbazard (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
St. Thomas Yacht Club
Vessup Bay (Saint-Thomas) · founded in 1964
Founded in 1964 at Vessup Bay (St. Thomas), the St. Thomas Yacht Club is the leading sailing club of the US Virgin Islands. It organises several regattas each year, including the St. Thomas International Regatta (created in 1974, nicknamed the "Crown Jewel of the Caribbean"), and runs a sailing centre (St. Thomas Sailing Center) and a junior program ranked among the best in the United States.
Photo: cavalierelatino (CC BY 2.0), via Flickr
Royal Langkawi Yacht Club
Kuah, Langkawi · founded in 1996
Opened in 1996 as Langkawi Yacht Club, granted the Royal title in 1999 by the Sultan of Kedah. Full marina and clubhouse in Kuah, able to host superyachts up to 80 m.
Photo: Kai Hendry (CC BY 2.0), via Flickr
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Westhaven, Auckland · founded in 1871
Founded in 1871 as the Auckland Yacht Club, granted the Royal title in 1902. New Zealand's most successful yacht club, current holder of the America's Cup (Emirates Team New Zealand), over 3,200 members, based at Westhaven at the foot of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Photo: Yasuhiro Chatani (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Sailfish Club of Florida
Palm Beach · founded in 1914
Private fishing and boating club in Palm Beach (Florida), on the north end of the island on Lake Worth. According to its official website, it was founded on 28 February 1914 with John D. Crimmins as first president; it met at the Breakers Casino until January 1932, when members had their own clubhouse and dock built. The site describes its purpose as bringing together people with a shared interest in fishing and boating, and lists swimming, sailing, fishing and boating among its activities. It runs the Gold Cup, a team sport-fishing tournament (sailfish caught and released), created in 1972 by John Rybovich. A hybrid structure (fishing and boating club with clubhouse, pool and dining) rather than a sailing club organising regattas.
Photo: Vadim Sazanovich (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Jeddah Yacht Club
Djeddah · founded in 2021
Private yacht club attached to the marina of the same name, on the Jeddah waterfront (Ash Shati) on the Red Sea. According to its official website, Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina was inaugurated in 2021 for the Jeddah Formula 1 Grand Prix. The site describes a members-only club designed for yacht owners, with an academy offering RYA-accredited sailing, powerboating and watersports courses, and says it hosts events such as the inaugural Red Sea 600 sailing competition. A hybrid structure (private club, 94-berth marina, hotel and restaurants on the same site) rather than a historic sailing club organising its own regattas.
Photo: Kolaiel (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons