“Torben Grael (Winning skipper, Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09, Ericsson 4) presenting IACH burgees to Skippers at The Ocean Race 2023 prize giving in Itajai”. Copyright Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race.
Who we are
Cape Horn is often called the Mount Everest of sailing. In 1936 the Amicale Internationale des Capitaines au Long Cours Cap Horniers was founded in St Malo by a group of French sailing ship Master Mariners. Their rules were quite specific about membership of this unique association including the words ‘having sailed round Cape Horn in square rigged sailing ships’.
Those vessels are now history. The last commercial voyage was in 1949 when the PAMIR and PASSAT sailed from South Australia for Falmouth for Orders but our objectives remain the same. To quote from the British Section rule book of 1969:
‘To promote and strengthen the ties of comradeship which bind together the unique body of men and women who enjoy the distinction of having voyaged round Cape Horn under sail.’
Membership is open to individuals of all nationalities who have rounded Cape Horn under sail as part of a non-stop passage of at least 3,000 nautical miles which passes above the latitude of 52° South in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and is completed without the use of engines for propulsion. More detailed information is available on the Membership pages of this site
