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 objects 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 of the IACH is open to sailors who have rounded Cape Horn under sail. The rounding of the Horn will have been part of a long non-stop ocean voyage without the use of an engine. More detailed information is available on the Membership pages of this site.