The Cook Islands Yacht Squadron (CIYS), an incorporated society, was established in August, 2006 to further the recreational and competitive sailing objective of Maritime Cook Islands, the flag state administrator of the Cook Islands register for ships and yachts.

One of the benefits of the CIYS membership is that it facilitates hassle-free enrolment of yachts on the register. We now have more than 200 yachts on board and the number is growing rapidly. (see http://www.maritimecookislands.com).

The objectives of CIYS are:
1. To facilitate and promote registration of yachts in the Cook Islands
2. To support the development of sailing, paddling, vaka voyaging and other Maritime activities in the Cook Islands and promoting the participation of Cook Islanders, internationally of such activities.

To help achieve some of these objectives, the CIYS has a close working relationship with the national yacht racing authority in the Cooks, Sailing Cook Islands, and is a major sponsor of that body.

The CIYS is also a major sponsor of the Cook Islands Kite Surfing Association and its Manureva Aquafest event, staged on the magnificent lagoon of Aitutaki. The Manureva Aquafest is an open addition to Kiteboard Tour Asia (KTA) and, with its combination of pristine waters and challenging trade winds, seems assured of a big future in a sport.