Yacht Club Austria
Yacht Club Austria (YCA) is Austria's largest nautical club, based in Linz, with around 2,800 members nationwide. As the International Austrian Cruising Club it combines training, cruising and racing through six regional crews in the federal states plus the Segelsport meta-crew. Members use club yachts on Lake Attersee and Lake Achensee as well as the steel displacement motor yacht Esperanza on the Danube, together with the extensive course programme of the Nautical Academy. Regular club evenings, club cruises, Female Sailing and international offshore regattas such as Gebirgssegler Cup, Alpe Adria Sailing Week and CROATIA 300 shape club life. Since its founding in 1972 by Prof. Claus Krieger, skipper training and youth development have been central to the club's mission.
History
After lengthy preparations, Tyrolean Prof. Claus Krieger founded Yacht Club Austria (YCA) in 1972 with its seat in Kufstein; since 1980 the headquarters have been in Linz. An early focus was supporting Austrian sailors and yacht owners in international waters, because ocean-going yachts and sea experience were scarce in landlocked Austria. Accordingly, offshore training was central to the club from the start. According to the statutes, the club purpose includes promoting yacht sport with sailing and motor yachts, social exchange among members, and developing young sailors. In February 2024, at the Tirol and Vorarlberg crew meeting in the Your Dome in Schwaz, Axel Krieger, son of the founder, also became a YCA member. Today Yacht Club Austria is Austria's largest sailing and motorboat club with more than 2,700 members and six regional crews. Besides club evenings, the association organises three Adriatic offshore regattas – Gebirgssegler Cup, Alpe Adria Sailing Week with the Austria Cup, and since 2024 CROATIA 300 – which count toward the Austrian Offshore Trophy. Members can also hire club yachts in Austria: several sailing boats and the steel displacement motor yacht Esperanza.
Information
Facilities
Nautical competence centre in Linz; club yachts SY Isabell and Melges 24 on Lake Attersee; SY Gundel Gaukeley and SY Daisy Duck on Lake Achensee; motor yacht MS Esperanza on the Danube; six regional crews in the federal states plus Segelsport meta-crew.
Activities
Nautical training and further education (FB1–FB4, 20 m inland master's licence, SRC, UBI, YCA Sailing Master, RYA), club cruises, special sailing adventures, Female Sailing, club evenings and regulars' tables, sailing Bundesliga, Gebirgssegler Cup, Alpe Adria Sailing Week with Austria Cup, CROATIA 300, crew exchange and member services.
Youth section
The Segelsport crew accompanies young people up to age 26 in their first nautical steps and offers racing experience; there is an annual Youth Sail Day on Lake Attersee. Youth and children's memberships are available.
Boating license training
Available: 1
Theory and practical courses for voyage areas FB1 to FB4 and the 20 m inland master's licence