The Dartmouth Yacht Club
The Dartmouth Yacht Club
The Dartmouth Yacht Club
Sited perfectly on the South Embankment in Dartmouth, the Dartmouth Yacht Club is both an active sailing and boating club as well as a convivial place to meet and relax. By The Dart spoke to Steve Betty, the Club’s Vice Commodore to find out what makes the Club so popular with members and its plans for the future.
“We think of ourselves as an informal club open to everyone,” explains Steve. “Obviously, we’d prefer them to have an active interest in boating but we don’t insist on it. We’ve such a wide range of members – there are our retired colonels and sea captains as well as experienced yachtsmen to families who are new to the sport.
Some but not all of us, own boats and whilst most of us have more than a passing interest in boating, some just use the club as a peaceful haven to while away a few hours. It’s a very comfortable place with some of the best views in the town.”
Dartmouth Yacht Club was founded in 1950 as the Dartmouth Sailing Club, The present building had been constructed at the turn of the century for the Channel Coaling Company, whose brass plaque is displayed over the bar. On their demise, it was leased to the Club and the new Clubhouse was formally opened in December 1954. In 1965, with the help of member’s loans, the freehold was purchased outright and in 1974 the Club changed its name to the Dartmouth Yacht Club.
The Club has 360 members, two thirds of whom live in Dartmouth or its local villages. A single membership is just £88, and £128 & £132 respectively for couples and families.
If you are interested in cruising, there’s an active sailing programme which combines a number of weekend and long weekend events with two main cruises. This is to provide more opportunities for members to take part and to encourage new or less experienced skippers to join in.
The weekend events provide a range of easy local cruises which can be combined with other activities to add interest whilst the two longer cruises visit a variety of ports and places, providing a flotilla style cruise. All these events are planned to coincide with favourable tides and all departures are scheduled for a Saturday start to give members who work or live away from Dartmouth a more convenient programme.
The main cruises this year include a 10 day trip to the Solent and the Isle of Wight (mid May) and a 2 week jaunt to the Scillies via Mounts Bay in June. All cruises take advantage of the facilities and welcome of other yacht clubs along the trip.
The Club is currently in the process of setting itself up as a recognised RYA training school. They have recently been licensed for classroom courses (from day skipper to yacht-master) but hope soon to obtain a licence for practical instruction, probably chartering the required yachts from members. The sailing section also hopes to get some dinghy sail training underway soon and it is an active supporter of DRYSA (Dart River Young Sailors Association).
In addition to the well supported and active cruising section, there’s a very strong canoe and kayak section numbering allmost 40 members. It’s currently aimed at a younger audience but there’s a growing membership across the age spectrum. They have several qualified instructors and an impressive range of boats and equipment.
They are open to beginners and provide good quality tuition. If you are on holiday in Dartmouth and want to do some kayaking then give the Club a ring. One of their instructors may be able to take you out in return for a donation to the club equipment fund. Canoe section members may join at the full rate or there is a reduced rate (£48 for single adult membership, £71 for a family) but which does not, however, give full access to the club bar and other facilities.
Steve comments, “There’s a perception that yacht clubs can be a bit stuffy and full of grumpy old men! We’re not like that at all. It’s very friendly and very sociable, particularly Friday evenings and Saturday lunchtimes. There are a good number of social events through the year. We are also in a great position for visiting yachtsmen to Dartmouth with all the facilities you’d expect.”
The social side includes fitting out, laying up and other parties. Water born picnics and BBQ’s as well as have invited speakers, quiz nights, skittles nights, dinners and dances. It’s also a venue for artists during the Dartmouth Music Festival when the Club is ‘open house’ for anyone to enjoy. They have a large function room, which can be separated from the bar, to accommodate the many different functions.
This facility, The Gun room, can be hired for private functions from as little as £25 for a part day (local clubs and societies) or £100 for the day for events such as: company meetings, parties, weddings, training and presentations, rehearsals, seminars, team away days, conferences, product launches, exhibitions etc. The dining room can cater for receptions and buffets for up to 120 guests and formal lunches and dinners for up to 56 guests.
First published February 2009 By the Dart
