The SRA celebrates its 130th anniversary: tradition, transmission and sharing

130 years of history rooted in port Vauban 

Founded in 1896 by sailors from Antibes, the Société des Régates d’Antibes is one of the oldest sailing clubs in France, predating even the creation of the French Sailing Federation in 1920.
Born in the wake of the Nice Nautical Club, the SRA has established itself over the decades as a key player in Mediterranean sailing. 

Today, the club ranks among the 2nd to 5th largest French sailing clubs, with: 

• 1,200 licensed sailors, including 45% women 

• 800 members 

• 224 active members and 244 boats 

• 814 schoolchildren in 2024–2025 

• 3,699 trainees throughout the year 

This momentum was notably marked by the SRA winning the French Club Champion title in 2023. 

The SRA also supports elite sporting careers, with sailors trained at the club such as Jessie Kampman (Paris Olympic Games) and Alexia Barrier (Route du Rhum, Vendée Globe, Jules Verne Trophy). Alexia Barrier recently completed a round-the-world sailing record in 57 days, 21 hours and 20 minutes, at sea with the first 100% female crew, made up of eight women, without stopovers or assistance. 

Highly active in port Vauban, the SRA organizes more than 22 regattas per year, bringing together between 50 and 130 boats per event. 

An accessible club 

The SRA promotes an inclusive vision of sailing, open to everyone from 5 to 100 years old, and accessible both financially and physically. 

Social commitment lies at the heart of its DNA. One third of the regattas organized are charity events, including: 

• the Handiboises (over 150 participants), 

• the Régate Rose, 

• the Alba Cup (organ donation awareness), 

• the Téléthon. 

The club notably operates three boats adapted for people with disabilities and has organized more than 300 solidarity outings. 

The City of Antibes plays a driving role in making the sea accessible to all. This commitment is reflected in concrete actions: protecting cruising sailing through the maintenance of a public-interest pricing policy, and active support for dinghy sailing via the SRA base at Ponteil. Beyond sport and leisure boating, the City Hall has made school sailing a priority, with a strong commitment to developing sailing education for all young people in the municipality. 

A 130th anniversary in 2026 

To celebrate its 130th anniversary, the SRA has designed a special program running throughout the year: 

• educational activities for children (workshops, a week to win at the sailing school), 

• conferences with leading French athletes, 

• photo exhibitions retracing the club’s history, 

• a dedicated clothing and merchandise collection. 

The year 2026 will also feature a major highlight with the 60th Croisière Bleue, which will take on a new dimension by bringing together 130 to 140 sailing boats.

“130 years of history, tradition, transmission, sharing and influence for the city, the port and the club.”
Jacques Escalier, President of the Société des Régates d’Antibes