ACOG - Yachting - IBM

History of Olympic Yachting

The history of yachting dates back to the 14th century in the Netherlands where fast, maneuverable sailing boats called "jachtschips" were used to combat piracy. Noblemen later used an altered version, called "jaght," for leisurely sailing, and eventually, yacht racing. The sport did not really flourish until the late 17th century when Charles II of England became a yachting enthusiast while exiled in Holland. Upon restoration to the British throne in 1660, Charles II introduced yachting to England, where the sport was eagerly embraced. Interest gradually spread around the globe, and, in 1851, the New York Yacht Club constructed a racing yacht christened "America." The yacht was entered in the world yachting championship race — England's Hundred-Guineas Cup. After "America" won the Cup, the championship race was renamed in honor of the winning yacht. Yachting was supposed to be contested at the first Modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, but was not staged due to inclement weather. Yachting finally made its belated debut at the following Games in 1900, where sailors raced in half-ton boats. With the founding of the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) in 1906, yachting was made a permanent Olympic sport at the 1908 London Games.

This is an official publication of The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.


Olympic Factoid
An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games.