International Council of Yacht Clubs
The International Council of Yacht Clubs (ICOYC) is an international organization that operates at the level of Commodores of yacht clubs through a Commodores’ Forum.
Its vision is to improve the quality of the services yacht clubs provide to their members, as well as promoting environmental awareness and responsibility towards the environment.
Among its practical objectives, the main thrust is to identify areas of interest and areas of concern among member clubs and to share information and experience on these areas. The ICOYC also would like to promote fellowship and informal contact among member clubs by means of sailing events as well as social activities.
The membership of the ICOYC is composed of prestigious yacht clubs in key yachting locations around the world, from Africa to Asia and the Pacific. Its main members are: Royal Natal Yacht Club, Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Seattle Yacht Club, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Royal Fresh Water Bay Yacht Club, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, Royal Danish Yacht Club, Royal Norwegian Yacht Club, Segelclub RHE, Société Nautique de Marseille, Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee, Royal Thames Yacht Club, Royal Western Yacht Cub.[1]
History
Its origins can be traced to Canada, where there was a discussion at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (RVYC) in 2003 about the need of an international Yacht Club organization. Practical steps were taken in 2005 when the RVYC hosted the first Commodores’ Forum, attended by representatives of yacht clubs around the world.
The International Council of Yacht Clubs was finally established in 2006 in Hong Kong, when the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club hosted the second Commodores’ Forum. This event was attended by 28 yacht clubs from all five continents.
