Yacht Club De France

About

The Yacht Club de France was founded in 1867 under the patronage of Emperor Napoléon III. It has a long-standing history of organising and supporting yachting and regattas. In 2022, the club merged with the Union Nationale pour la Course au Large (UNCL) to reinforce its offshore racing role. More details can be found on their website.

Primary Activity

The club promotes recreational boating and organises yacht racing and related activities. It operates France’s IRC centre and a Pôle Course for race programmes and rating services. For more information, visit their official site.

Moorings and Anchorage

The Yacht Club de France does not operate its own marina or boatyard. Instead, it maintains a network of allied clubs around France and abroad, providing members with access to local berthing and marina facilities. More details can be found at this link.

Clubhouse Features

The club's headquarters is located at 41 Avenue Foch, Paris. It features a dining room (Le Carré) and a bar with weekday lunch service and Wednesday evening openings. There are multiple salons available for meetings and private hire, accommodating cocktail events for approximately 30 to 250 guests and seated events for up to 140. Additional facilities include a library and reception/event spaces. More information is available on their website.

Training and Racing

The club provides IRC rating and certification services through its Centre de Calcul IRC and publishes guidance on IRC measurement. The Pôle Course supports race preparation, class development, and the organisation of offshore and championship events. For details on racing activities, visit this page.

As an active race organiser, the club co-organises events such as the Giraglia Rolex Cup and hosts IRC championships. Following the merger with UNCL, it has absorbed additional offshore-racing activities. More information can be found at this link.

Cruising Activities

The club runs and promotes cruising-related activities for members through partnerships and special member offers. It also supports classic-yacht cruising events, including the organisation of classic yacht rallies. Further details are available on their website.

Social Events

The Yacht Club de France hosts a regular social programme that includes members’ lunches, themed dinners, conferences, cultural events, and private salon hire for receptions and meetings. The clubhouse is also used for race control and maritime gatherings. More information can be found at this link.

Dress Code

Smart attire is required in the clubhouse. Members and guests are expected to wear city trousers, a jacket, and a tie. Jeans and trainers are not permitted, and a tie is recommended generally and required from 17:00 in the salons. Details can be found at this page.

Seasonal Operation

The club's offices and clubhouse operate year-round, with publicised office hours from Monday to Thursday 09:00–18:00 and Friday 09:00–17:00. Dining services are available on weekdays and Wednesday evenings. The racing programme is concentrated in the spring and summer months, while the IRC and race-administration calendar runs year-round. More information is available at this link.