Yacht Club Costa Smeralda pays tribute to His Highness the Aga Khan
by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 5 Feb 09:15 PST
His Highness the Aga Khan, founder and President of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda , passed away on 4th February, surrounded by his family © Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
In 1967, the forward-looking vision of His Highness the Aga Khan led to the founding of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. Since then, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV served as the Club's President, guiding it to achievements that have shaped the history of Italian sailing and established the YCCS as an international benchmark in the yachting world.
The idea of founding the YCCS came from His Highness the Aga Khan and a group of friends - Andrè Ardoin, Giuseppe Kerry Mentasti and Luigi Vietti - with the aim of creating a non-profit sporting association to bring together lovers of the sea and nautical sports to celebrate beauty and excellence. Since its inception, the YCCS has combined sailing tradition with an innovative spirit, organising world-class regattas and competitions that continue to attract leading names in global sailing.
The exceptional location, the facilities created, and the unique natural landscape have made the YCCS sporting calendar a point of reference for professional sailors and enthusiasts alike. This success is testament to the visionary leadership of His Highness, who saw the potential of a wonderful area of Sardinia and contributed to the creation of what is now a centre of excellence.
His Highness the Aga Khan's deep passion for the sea and sailing drove him to support historic endeavours in the yachting world, starting with the first Italian challenge for the America's Cup launched in 1981 for the Newport '83 edition. Azzurra became a symbol of determination and passion, an icon of Italian sailing that inspired generations of sailors. The team's participation marked a fundamental turning point, elevating the Italian sailing scene on the international stage.
Another milestone was achieved in 1992 with Destriero, a water-jet powered vessel that set an unbeaten transatlantic record, covering the distance between New York and England in a record time of 58 hours, 34 minutes and 40 seconds—a feat that remains unmatched to this day.
In addition to his sporting achievements, His Highness the Aga Khan always demonstrated a strong sense of respect for the environment and the sea. Driven by this ethos, in the year it celebrated the 50th anniversary of its foundation, the Club, with the support of the Aga Khan family, launched the One Ocean sustainability initiative, which saw the first forum held in Italy dedicated to the preservation of the marine environment.
Through the YCCS and from its very foundation, His Highness promoted values of excellence, innovation, passion for the sea, respect for the environment, and support for the next generation. With this in mind, the Young Azzurra project was created in 2020, a programme designed to support talented young sailors in their professional development.
The YCCS will honour His Highness' vision by continuing its mission, combining a passion for the sea with a profound love for Sardinia.
The members of the Club, the Board of Directors, the Commodore, the Board of Auditors, and all the management and staff express their deepest condolences to His Highness' family and to the Ismaili community.