9th ICOYC European Conference

WORDS:

Held from 9 to 11 March and hosted by the Gstaad Yacht Club together with the ICOYC European Vice President Goncalo Esteves, the three-day event was attended by 50 delegates and 10 partners from 28 clubs across 20 countries. RHKYC was represented by Past Commodores Denis Martinet and Inge-Strompf Jepsen who initially expected to be observers in this European event but did however quickly get roped in to presenting in three of the 14 themes on the agenda.

Needless to say, one of the first presentations was titled “Why a Yacht Club without waters in the Mountains?” garnered a lot of interest amongst the participants!

Commodore Manrico Iachia and Managing Director Cindy Schoenrich explained the concept of “A Global Unique Yacht Club” that was established 25 years ago with a vision to “create a unique global yacht club away from the waters, instead of another local club by the waters”. The club’s current membership totals 400 hailing from 35 different nations!

The cabin-style clubhouse is like any other yacht club and is the focal point for likeminded sailors. International nautical themed lectures and presentations dominate club life. Sailing activities at club level take place thanks to invitations from the Yacht Club de Monaco, which invites the GYC to regattas in the Mediterranean and has now led to numerous other yacht clubs in the region doing the same.

A youth sailing programme introduces the next generation to sailing via Optimist courses pm Lakes Thun and Lac Leman. The results have led to GYC sailors representing the club in the Olympic Games since 2004.

Theme 1 of the conference was the introduction of five new clubs to ICOYC membership; Monte Real Club De Yates De Baiona, Spain; Coral

Reef Yacht Club and St. Petersburg Yacht Club both from Florida in the USA and Salinas Yacht Club in Ecuador introduced themselves to the conference delegates as did the Cruising Club of America. CCA has 1,500 members and is one of the biggest clubs in the USA but interestingly it does not own any facilities nor clubhouses but operates in the virtual world of communication and in the real world of organised cruises.

Counting these new clubs, the ICOYC now has a total of 47 member clubs – a very impressive increase from the 12 founding member clubs which banded together to establish the organisation in Hong Kong in 2006.

The remaining themes of the agenda were replete with topics relating to the running and managing of yacht clubs, including how to cope with inflation, the future of sponsorship, media, communication, and operating software. How do we keep our coaches and staff in a highly competitive employment market and how do we broaden our membership base were all items discussed at length.

Financial implications in regard to facility upgrade projects, changes required and challenges to be faced caused concern among most of the attending clubs.

Sailing related discussions focused on the pathway to the Olympics, how do clubs support their hopefuls and who is paying for the campaigns? What will the boat classes of the future be? Sailing versus foiling? What equipment and boats does Race Management need for running of races on the water?

Sustainability was split into two themes as they looked at it both from an environmental and a social aspect. It was agreed a lot of work has still to be done!

Other very interesting issues presented and discussed covered: How to prepare the club for emergency situations? Both material damage as well as cost of life scenarios were highlighted and having good insurances and emergency plans in place is an absolute must.

Further details of the ICOYC (International Council of Yacht Clubs) can be found at www.icoyc.org

ICOYC Mission and Vision

The International Council of Yacht Clubs (ICOYC) is an association of the world's leading yacht Clubs, founded in 2006. With events and opportunities for club members, leadership and professional staff, the Council exists to promote so each can be empowered to improve their home Organisation collaboration among these clubs while positively contributing to yachting worldwide.

Themes of the Conference

Theme 1: New Members – Introducing New Clubs

Theme 2: Cruising Club of America

Theme 3: Open Panel – Olympics 2024 / Junior class/ Sailing vs. Foiling – what is more interesting for the next generation.

Theme 4: Maintenance of boat parks. Replace committee Boats and what is the next Junior class – Which boats are more interesting for kids?

Theme 5: Open Panel – How are we going to live with inflation?

Theme 6: Partners and Commercial aspects

Things are getting more expensive – how do we keep up with Fundraising and Sponsorship management / alternative sources.

Theme 7: Facilities – Chances and Challenges, how to develop its arena?

How to bring your club to a new level with new premises and extension – How do you plan for increased turnover and activities when building a new Clubhouse – How you get the money for the change? Could you anticipate the money that banks would give you?

Theme 8: How to prepare the club for emergency situations?

Theme 9: Media & Communication in the club. Real-life vs. Digital life – we cannot escape the trend / ICOYC website Communication.

Theme 10: Social Sustainability

In the US, yacht clubs have no technical or legal responsibility to act as a charitable (do-good) organization; they are social clubs. Yet pressure exists for more from without and within. This pressure varies from community to community, country to country. Can it be ignored? Should it be? This topic will explore what a yacht club is required to do, what it does, why it does something different than required, and how the environment has changed over time.

Theme 11: How do you broaden the membership = attracting new member through new “water”.

Theme 12: Sharing experience: Handling Facilities

CRM systems and club software – Is the software we are using still sustainable for the club?

Theme 13: How can we keep our coaches and staff and not lose them to international associations or other Commercial entities?

Theme 14: Sustainability: Evolution vs. Revolution

ICOYC Member Clubs

Annapolis Yacht Club

Chicago Yacht Club

Clube Naval De Cascais

Coral Reef Yacht Club

Eastern Yacht Club

Göteborgs Kungliga Segels ӓllskap/

Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club

Gstaad Yacht Club

Kongelig Dansk Yachtklub/

Royal Danish Yacht Club

Kongelig Norsk Seilforening/

Royal Norwegian Yacht Club

Kungliga Svenska Segel Sallskapet/

Royal Swedish Yacht Club

Long Beach Yacht Club

Monte Real Club De Yates De Baiona

Newport Harbor Yacht Club

Norddeutscher Regatta Verein

Nylandska Jaktklubben/Njk

Real Club Nautico De Barcelona

Real Club Nautico De Palma

Republic Of Singapore Yacht Club

Royal Canadian Yacht Club

Royal Cape Yacht Club

Royal Cork Yacht Club

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club

Royal Lymington Yacht Club

Royal Malta Yacht Club

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

Royal Perth Yacht Club

Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron

Royal Southern Yacht Club

Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron

Royal Thames Yacht Club

Royal Vancouver Yacht Club

Royal Varuna Yacht Club

Salinas Yacht Club

San Diego Yacht Club

San Francisco Yacht Club

Sandringham Yacht Club

Seattle Yacht Club

Societe Nautique De Marseille

Southern Yacht Club

St. Francis Yacht Club

St. Petersburg Yacht Club

The Cruising Club of America

Verein Seglerhaus Am Wannsee

Yacht Club De Monaco

Yacht Club Italiano

Yacht Club Punta Del Este