For 150 years, in the service of yachting..
The story begins in the middle of the 19th century. In France, people then discovered sailing for pleasure: the first canoes attracted onlookers to the Seine... Water sports also developed, which it gradually became necessary to organize. Thus, on 15 June 1867, at the Ministry of the Navy, and under the aegis of Emperor Napoleon III, the "Société d'Encouragement pour la Navigation de Plaisance" was founded. An official name to which will be added, a few months later, on November 11th precisely, the more attractive name of "Yacht Club de France". Admiral Rigault de Genouilly, then Minister of the Navy, was its first President. The association, recognized as a public utility in 1914, is the guardian of the "values and traditions of sailing and motor yachting, whether regatta or cruise", and of a certain ethic that is linked to it. In short, solidarity, courtesy and moral elegance make up this art of living at sea, which is well and truly defended!
Today, the YCF, in the heart of the French boating landscape
After more than 150 years of existence, the Club has kept the same ambitions, adapted to the evolution of yachting of course. The aim is to "promote, at a national level, sailing and yacht building in all its forms, and, beyond that, to contribute to the training of sailors". Managed by a president, Philippe Heral, an office, a board of directors, and various commissions, dedicated to heritage, navigation, the Club's restaurant, events at sea or on land... It should be noted that the YCF maintains close links with 32 allied Yacht Clubs in France and 25 abroad. In short, over the years it has become a de facto representative to the public authorities in the world of yachting, which is nowadays populated by five million French people!
Such illustrious members!
The Club had as many as 2000 members in the early 20th century, when it also looked after the wards of the sea. Today, there are 500 sea and marine enthusiasts to be members. Among the most illustrious members of the Club, great sailors, winners of the greatest races, marine painters, great writers, academics... let's mention Jules Verne, Virginie Hériot, Guy de Maupassant, Gustave Caillebotte, Alain Gerbault, Commander Charcot, Marin-Marie, Éric Tabarly, Olivier de Kersauson, Jean-Louis Étienne, Michel Desjoyaux, Franck Cammas. And for the honorary members: Queen Elizabeth of England, King Juan Carlos of Spain, King Constantine II of Greece, the Prince of Monaco, the Aga Khan Prince... Of course, the vast majority of the members are simply common mortals! They are not all Parisians, or even Parisian. Some even come from abroad
Between image and reality..
Sébastien David, Vice-President in charge of Communication of the YCF, says: "You are all potential future members! Admission is not that complicated", he defends. It is done through two sponsors, and is submitted to an Interior Commission and then to a Council. "There is no need for you to own a yacht, big or small, or to collect civil, citizen or military recognitions," he adds. "The only thing that matters is adherence to the values that the club defends and the willingness to "serve" to defend them, both at sea and on land. If Sébastien is so insistent, it's because the YCF is often perceived as a dusty and stuffy institution. An image that does not reflect the truth for Sebastien. "It's young and happy too! ».
Attractive values?
In fact, the club can be proud, unlike many associations, to see its membership grow. "In this day and age, where there is a lot of pecking around and relative involvement, that's a great achievement, isn't it? Sébastien adds, "This success can be explained, no doubt because our values attract, because they correspond to certain aspirations of the population. It is true that parity has not really been achieved among the members, since only a few dozen women are members, but the doors of the YCF are wide open to them. It is also a concrete offer of activities that seems to appeal to the members..
What the YCF offers its members
According to Sébastien, the Club's activity rests on three main pillars. Firstly, the social life it generates for its members. Conferences and meetings, prestigious competitions, meetings of maritime clubs or institutions, monthly cocktail parties, exhibitions... are on the programme. The Club is also at the origin of outings at sea for the sole pleasure of sailing as well as regattas. For example, the French Sailing Cup, created by the Club in 1891 (which makes it one of the oldest sailing trophies in Europe) as France's response to the America's Cup. Currently on hold, the Club has plans to revive it.
Acting and conserving
Another example is the YCF Autumn Cup, which offers traditional sailboats that participated in the "Régates Royales" in Cannes, the opportunity to race Saint-Tropez and its "Voiles". Also to be mentioned are the races initiated or sponsored by the Club: the Spring Cup, the Virginie Hériot Cup, the Ganay Cup, the Riban Etoilé Motonautique, the Tour de France à la Voile, the Régates Royales, the events organized by the Allied Clubs... Finally, the Club has a heritage mission that it carries out by collecting objects and documents retracing the history of yachting. It is notably through its library that it fulfils this mission
A renowned library
It is one of the richest in Europe on these themes of the sea and yachting. In its glazed shelves, all in wood varnished in a warm caramel colour, it conceals treasures... For proof, these logbooks of the famous sailor Virginie Hériot, who won the Olympic Games in 1928 in Amsterdam on board her yacht L'Ailée VI. For examples also the logbook of Charcot, writings by Jules Verne, others by Commandant Caillebotte. The copies of "Le Yacht", since its creation, those of the members' directories, and those also of the Bulletin published since 1902, are also of great value. Registers of identification of boats in the world, published by Lloyds insurance, when the ships were still possible to be counted, also enrich the collection! Modern books, naval architects' plans... complete the collection, which, due to lack of space, is still sometimes in boxes. If this library is one of the most important pieces of the Club, there are at least three others that are worth a visit
Elegant and friendly premises
After a few Parisian addresses, the YCF has moved to rented premises of 550 m2 for the past 20 years. It has therefore been occupying the ground floor of a superb building in western Paris for twenty years. After an imposing porch, we enter an entrance surrounded by doors: here we discover the first elements of this collection of written documents, photos, paintings, iconographies, models, half-shells... which make up the delightful decoration of the premises. It is on the portrait of the very first president of the Club, Admiral Rigault de Genouilly, that the gaze is first directed. We then admire the first of a long series of delicate models: well sheltered under its glass bell represents Virginie Hériot's Wing. And, like stripes on the walls, tapering half-shells of varnished wood are presented one above the other up to the high ceiling
See you at the big lounge
In the large reception room, the high walls and ceilings are decorated with mouldings, bas-reliefs, mirrors and paintings. Some are by the famous painter of the Navy, Marin-Marie, who was a member of the Club. Tables and sideboards hold cups and trophies. Models of ships still also. And large French windows open onto a green, almost country garden in the heart of Paris.
A warm bar
From the entrance there is a staircase leading to the bar. Step by step, one discovers a whole series of black and white photographic portraits of the presidents of the Club since its creation.
Cognac-coloured, deep and comfortable armchairs and sofas, wooden bar, walls covered with frames protecting photos, engravings, paintings, showing boats all sails outside: the bar proves to be very convivial!
Eating out among ourselves
Finally the large dining room and its refined decoration. With its mirrored doors, it seems very large, but in reality remains on a human scale. Between its marbled walls, its small intimate tables with impeccable dressage and its upholstered chairs welcome members and their guests. On the tablecloths, cutlery with the navy's coat of arms announces gourmet meals. "These are four very convivial places to live," says Sébastien, who can be reserved by our members and where room is also left for the major players in the yachting industry
