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Connection to the <strong>Yacht</strong>ing World<br />
The International Council of <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>s<br />
Commodore William T. Torgerson<br />
In 2011, the <strong>Annapolis</strong> <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong> received and<br />
accepted an invitation to become a member<br />
of the International Council of <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>s<br />
(ICOYC). We were sponsored by two other leading<br />
North American clubs – Seattle <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong> and Royal<br />
Vancouver <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>.<br />
ICOYC is an organization which came into being in<br />
the mid-2000s as an outgrowth of informal gatherings<br />
between the leaders of prominent yacht clubs in Europe,<br />
North America, and Asia. The ICOYC’s mission is<br />
to foster communication, closer relationships, and<br />
information exchange between leading yacht clubs from<br />
around the world. There are currently about 28 member<br />
clubs, representing 15 countries. Its current President is<br />
John Stork of the Royal Thames YC.<br />
The principal gatherings of the Council are its<br />
Commodores’ Forums, held every 12-18 months and<br />
attended by leaders and other members of member clubs.<br />
Forums so far have been held in Vancouver, Marseilles,<br />
Durban, Perth, and Seattle. The 2012 Forum will be<br />
hosted by the Royal Southern <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong> in England.<br />
The forums are packed with topical presentations and<br />
in-depth discussions of issues faced by the member<br />
clubs. In addition, they are a great opportunity to meet<br />
and mingle with counterparts from fellow clubs around<br />
the world.<br />
One very interesting development is that after each<br />
forum the host <strong>Club</strong> arranges a cruise that is open to all<br />
members of member clubs. These cruises have become<br />
a great hit with member clubs as there is no better way<br />
to get to see the highlights of an area than to have the<br />
cruise organized and run by the most prominent and<br />
knowledgeable local club. For example, the 2011 postforum<br />
cruise in the Pacific Northwest featured stops at<br />
the outstations of the Seattle and Royal Vancouver YCs,<br />
facilities which are normally reserved for use only by<br />
their members.<br />
If you would like to know more about the ICOYC check out their website<br />
www.icoyc.org.<br />
Current Members<br />
<strong>Annapolis</strong> <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, <strong>Annapolis</strong>, MD<br />
Bruxelles Royal <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, Brussels<br />
Eastern <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, Marblehead, MA<br />
Newport Harbor <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, Balboa, CA<br />
Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, Hamburg<br />
Nylanska Jaktklubben, Helsinki<br />
Royal Danish <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, Copenhagen<br />
Royal Freshwater Bay <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, Perth<br />
Royal Hong Kong <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong><br />
Royal Natal <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, Durban<br />
Royal New Zealand <strong>Yacht</strong> Squadron, Auckland<br />
Royal Norwegian <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, Oslo<br />
Royal Perth <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, Australia<br />
Royal Prince Alfred <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, Newport, Australia<br />
Royal Southern <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, Hamble, UK<br />
Royal Swedish <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, Stockholm<br />
Royal Sydney <strong>Yacht</strong> Squadron<br />
Royal Thames <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, London<br />
Royal Vancouver <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong><br />
Sandrigham <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, Melbourne<br />
Seattle <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, Seattle, WA<br />
Societe Nautique de Marseille<br />
Southern <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, New Orleans, LA<br />
St. Francis <strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong>, San Francisco, CA<br />
Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee, Berlin<br />
<strong>Yacht</strong> <strong>Club</strong> Italiano, Genoa<br />
VOLUME 3, NO. 2<br />
AYC BEACON<br />
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