History
The origins of local enthusiasts meeting and sailing together on Spain's beautiful North Costa Blanca may be informal and unrecorded, but by 2002, a vibrant community had already begun to take shape. That year, a group called the Costa Blanca Boat Club emerged, guided by the devotion and leadership of Dr. Ron Shanson.
Over the next few years, the Club grew organically as a friendly, member-supported group. While it initially operated informally without a written constitution, its activities were lively and engaging, reflecting a shared passion for sailing and related social activities.
In 2004, an incident on the water highlighted the importance of formalising the Club's structure to ensure the safety and protection of all involved. Embracing this as an opportunity for growth, the Club took proactive steps, and in March 2005, following legal guidance, began the process of registering the Club with the Registry of Associations in the Valenciana Region. This included defining clear objectives and adopting the Model Statutes under Article 22 of the Spanish Constitution.
A significant milestone came on 27th October 2005, when the Acta Fundacional (Founding Certificate) was proudly signed by the seven Committee members at the time - four of whom continue to support the Association to this day: Dr. Ron Shanson, Piers Armstrong, Chris Middleton and Diana Jarvis. Their dedication helped secure official registration on 21st May 2007, under Role Constitution Number 31820, with the name Asociación de Amigos del Yate, Costa Blanca - translated to English as the Costa Blanca Yacht Association (CBYA).
As a non-profit and inclusive organisation, we welcome members from all backgrounds. While many of our members are British, we are proud to include Spanish, German, French, Belgian, Norwegian and Argentinian enthusiasts - making our community truly international. Day to day Club business is conducted in English for ease of common communication.
We warmly invite you to join us! Whether you're an experienced sailor or simply passionate about life on the water, the CBYA is a place to connect, share, and enjoy. Do have a look at the events calendar on this website and come and visit us - we look forward to welcoming you aboard!
Last updated 12:16 on 3 August 2025
