Our history

The tradition of sailing regattas in Sanremo dates back to the early twentieth century: the city hosted the Italian Cups between 1902 and 1912, and even the French Cup in 1903.

The Compagnia della Vela was only formed in 1920, involving professionals, fishermen, exponents of the sailing navy, all passionate racers on sailing boats and in the first classes ranging from 3.75 to 5 metres.

The Compagnia della Vela immediately hosted high-profile events, then in 1930 it was forced to merge with the Lega Navale Italiana. 

Unfortunately, with the war, many documents were lost, but the recognition of Lloyd's Register and the race start cannon remain as evidence.

In the twenties and thirties it was traditional to give the starting signal for sailing trials using a real cannon that fired blanks.

A tradition that we maintain during the most important events, using the ancient cannon to give the starting signal or pay homage to the victorious or most prestigious boats.

In 1947 the Compagnia della Vela was reconstituted, which in 1953 contributed to the birth of the  Giraglia regatta, founded by Pier Franco Gavagnin, Beppe Croce and Renè Levainville, which was destined to become a classic of offshore sailing in the Mediterranean.

Since 2010, the Giraglia has returned to our city for several editions, with a new formula that includes the long Sanremo-Saint Tropez regatta, enjoying great success.

In 1956 the Compagnia della Vela became the Yacht Club Sanremo, while also maintaining its previous name.

Over those years, sporting activity intensified, with the national 4.50 series and with the Snipes.

In 1958 - at the initiative of Nanin Ameglio and commander Pier Franco Gavagnin, sailor, judge and regatta organizer - the first Sailing School was founded. It is here that numerous champions with future successes at both national and world level are born. In 1961 the sailing school became a FIV Authorized School.

In 1959 the Yacht Club Sanremo promoted the Pre-Olympic Spring Criterium in which the best helmsmen from all over Europe of the Flying Dutchman and Snipe classes took turns; to these, in 1983, the Solings were added for the Mediterranean Championship.

The Criterium is now called the Spring Criterium and the protagonists of this event are still the Snipes.

The Yacht Club Sanremo kicks off the Dino Minaglia Trophy which rewards the Club that obtains the three best Junior placings, and the International Meeting of the Mediterranean for the Optimist and Equipe classes, today an international event reserved for the Optimists.

As the years went by, the members' activity progressively moved from dinghies to offshore regattas for which, in 1981, the West Liguria Winter Championship was started for the offshore classes, today among the most important in Italy with a high number of registered boats.

In addition to continuing classic events, the Yacht Club began organising World, European and Italian Championships which have made the history of world sailing.

The sailing school is divided into the racing/pre-racing sectors on Optimist and 420, for athletes who follow the activity annually, summer sailing school as an initiation during the holidays, and promotional activities with local schools such as the first Lupi di Mare and Vela Scuola.