Yacht Club Hard (YCH)
Yacht Club Hard (YCH) is a traditional sailing club on Lake Constance in Hard, Vorarlberg. Founded in 1926, the club is celebrating its centenary and offers a pier and a new clubhouse on the Fontainebleau ferry. Members can charter the club boat Elpluska, use a crew exchange, join the berth waiting list and attend club events. The youth section trains weekly and competes in Optimist and 29er at national and international regattas. YCH is known for the Harder Cup, sailing bundesliga participation and winning the Austrian sailing bundesliga.
History
Yachtclub Hard was founded in 1926 by sailing enthusiasts on the occasion of the keel-laying of the “Ostner” as HSC Harder Segel Club. The first pier was built in 1975, followed by the clubhouse in 1983. The club celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2001; a new pier followed in 2007. From 2006 to 2009 YCH hosted international Match Races Open, and in 2010 European Match Race championships for Open and Women. In 2021 Hard hosted the Austrian Youth Championship. Since winter 2020 the club has offered the charter boat Elpluska; the Fontainebleau ferry arrived as the new clubhouse in 2023 and was completed in 2025. Winning the Austrian sailing bundesliga made YCH known nationally and internationally. In 2026 a festive anniversary evening officially opened the centenary celebrations.
Information
Facilities
Pier on Lake Constance, new clubhouse on the Fontainebleau ferry with kitchen and grill, club boat Elpluska for charter, crew exchange, webcams and weather station on the clubhouse roof, berth waiting list.
Activities
Regattas such as Harder Cup, club regatta, Harder Youth Cup and midweek races; sailing bundesliga; youth training and talent development; Whitsun trips and end-of-season sails; club evenings, summer festivals and member-run clubhouse catering.
Youth section
Active youth section with weekly training, Optimist and 29er racing, Harder Youth Cup and participation in national and international championships.
Guest berths
Yes, at events after registration