Imperial Yacht Club
Boat in Cape Town

Imperial Yacht Club presently has about 125 members with a total of approximately 80 boats.
By Imperial Yacht Club Sandvlei.
The club’s 75th anniversary was celebrated on the present site in 1981 and in the late 1980’s the Peninsula Canoe Club joined The Imperial Yacht Club and as parent body, Zandvlei Sports Club, was formed.
IYC wishes to thank for sponsoring our Club Champs.

Imperial Yacht Club is a family club orientated around youth sailing and development. Our club sailing days are Sundays with fun and interesting club regattas. The kids mostly set up the course and decide on the format, with adults supporting and taking responsibility for rescue and safety. The club is right opposite the start line and between races sailors sit on the shore and share experiences and knowledge. We welcome visitors and anybody who would like to try sailing. As a family club, the whole family becomes involved, whether it is on the bridge, rescue, dolly duty, or sailing. The main classes racing are Lasers and Sonnets for the seniors, and Optimists and Dabchicks for the juniors, although any class of boat is welcome to join in the racing. Sailing has a lot to offer the youth and we actively encourage children and parents from all backgrounds to participate in sailing by offering regular training and coaching at the club. We have a number of weekend and school learn to sail coaching programs for different levels, from complete novice and beginner to learning to race, and beyond. The vlei is well suited to small boat dinghy sailing as the sailors learn to sail close to the clubhouse. In the early days there was a strong Italian influence at the club, particularly through the influence of Count Labia. With the outbreak of the First World War, sailing was interrupted and only resumed in the mid-twenties. The Second World War again hampered sailing, but it was a local problem that eventually saw the disbandment of the club in The problem was silting up of the vlei and it eventually became overgrown with weed. As a result of the war, interest in sailing was lost and the club’s boats fell into a state of disrepair.Although efforts were made to revive the club, it was not until 1962 that they bore any fruit. With the redevelopment of the vlei, sailing was again possible. At that stage there were about 500 members, mainly family members, with a total of about 150 boats. The Zandvlei Sports Club looks after the facilities with each club operating separately and managing it own affairs.