Royal Yacht Club of Belgium, Antwerpen – regattas, sailing school…

Overview

The Royal Yacht Club de Belgique was founded in Antwerp on 15 May 1851 as the Yacht Club Royal Belge and is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the world; it celebrates its 175th anniversary in 2026. Its clubhouse and restaurant now stand at the Linkeroever marina, looking out over the Scheldt. The club runs a sailing school and Sailcenter on the Galgenweel lake, dry berths at Linkeroever and Galgenweel, and its own marina at Wolphaartsdijk on the Veerse Meer. On the Scheldt it races the Schelderegatta from Hansweert to Antwerp, the Antwerp Challenge and the Antwerp Race; on the Galgenweel it runs the Antwerp City Cup for the 2.4mR, an inclusive class where sailors with and without disabilities race together.

Founded: 1851
Federation: Wind- en Watersport Vlaanderen
Email: rycb@rycb.be
Phone: +32 3 303 75 54
Registry code: 0408.679.212

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Regattas and series

Run or hosted by the club, per the club website. Dates and notices are on the club site.

Schelderegattaannual race up the Scheldt on the flood from Hansweert to Antwerp Linkeroever, with a Cruiser Cup for unmeasured yachts
Antwerp Challengeseries of 9 race days of short races on the Scheldt for all yachts (CR rating), with a J/24 ranking
Antwerp Racerace on the Scheldt
Antwerp City Cupinternational 2.4mR regatta on the Galgenweel, late October (15th edition in 2026)
Q-Cupraces for junior sailors

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Sailing school and courses

Boat classes

OptimistRS AeroJ/242.4mR

History and achievements

1851Founded on 15 May as the 'Yacht Club Royal Belge'; first sailing races on the Scheldt that June
1891Own boathouse on the left bank, opposite the Suikerrui
1914–1945Twice the club's left-bank premises are destroyed and rebuilt
1960sAfter the Veerse Gat is closed off, the club opens its marina at Wolphaartsdijk
2008Work starts on the new clubhouse at the marina, finished almost ten years later
2026175 years of the RYCB; the Schelderegatta is tied to the Tall Ships Races in Antwerp

Home harbour & location

Linkeroever marina, AntwerpVHF 9Marina page: prices, services, map →

Position: 51°13.74′ N 4°23.62′ E
51.22898, 4.39359
Address: Thonetlaan 133
Radio: VHF 9
emergency VHF 16 · DSC 70

Frequently asked

Can I learn to sail here?

Yes. The club lists these courses: Youth sailing school, Adult sailing school, Water sports camps, Sea Survival and First aid.

When was Royal Yacht Club of Belgium founded?

In 1851.

Which regattas does the club run?

According to the club website, among others: Schelderegatta, Antwerp Challenge, Antwerp Race and Antwerp City Cup.