Sail-World.com : Beating heart of Adelaide’s boating community
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Beating heart of Adelaide’s boating community |
Bob Wonders take a close look at what surely rates as one of the most unique boating clubs on Australia’s coastline.
The Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia (hereafter referred to as CYC SA to save wear and tear on my keyboard) is unique, without doubt. I’ve certainly not encountered a club with a similar structure.
Consider this; the CYC SA is run on a day-to-day basis by a General Manager and staff who are appointed by a Board of Management. This board, elected annually, controls the club’s finances, staff and assets and establishes policy guidelines for the General Manager to adopt. From within its own ranks, the board appoints a President and a Treasurer.
Rather surprisingly, the Senior Member afloat, the Club Commodore, is a non-voting member of the board, along with the Vice and Rear Commodores. They are appointed by invitation as people of ‘community standing’ and represent the club in situations as required. While it may seem an unusual situation compared to the average club, whatever CYC SA does is proving successful, highly successful.
CYC SA members have got it made. The club boasts not one, but two impressive marinas and only this week received approval to add 74 berths to its Marina West arm at the North Haven facility.
General Manager Craig Evans was elated. 'This approval comes after five-years of hard work by the board and is obviously a significant achievement for the club,' he said.
'With available berths ranging in size from 11.0-metres through to 35.0-metres, we will be able to cater for much larger vessels and satisfy the growing number of people considering larger craft, particularly the powerboat and motor yacht fraternity.'
The CYC SA is about 20 kilometres from Adelaide’s city centre, a 25 minute drive. Port Vincent, site of the club’s secondary marina, is a further 30 kilometres distant.
I would imagine the club’s real estate portfolio would run into some millions of dollars!
Its North Haven premises, comprising the club house, marina and hard stand area covers more than 36 hectares (88 acres in the old money). The marina has berthing for 240 craft at present, and hardstand berths for another 150 boats.
I described the club as ‘unique’, and that’s an apt description.
CYC SA (Management) Pty Ltd owns not only the freehold of the land, but also of the water!
Club members, as unit holders in a unit trust, are able to be proprietors of their marina berths, which may be bought, sold or leased out at market values.
The club comes straight to the point when describing its vision;
Provide the highest level of services to its members, be prominent in all forms of boating in South Australia and be committed to the promotion of yachting and boating as a worthy contributor to the community lifestyle.
I like it.
Looking over the club’s facilities and features it’s hard to decide where to begin.
The CYC SA’s club house is, of course, the hub of activity and boasts a superb restaurant/dining room capable of seating 330 guests, with adjacent outdoor bar facilities.
 | The CYCSA is a popular function venue - CYCSA_. |
This outdoor bar is a component of a popular and substantial undercover patio area overlooking the main marina and it’s ‘the place’ for members to enjoy a quiet time, a meal or even organised activity.
On the marina, berths are available in either single or double pens, all serviced by power and water and boasting very convenient storage lockers.
Hard stand berths are serviced by a magnificent, dual lane launching ramp (largest in South Australia) and there’s access to three launching tractors, all within a fully-fenced, floodlit and security-alarmed sealed area.
See, I told you CYC SA members have got it made.
Car parking, showers, toilets, workshops and slipping areas all provide first rate facilities for members. Other nearby attractions include public transport, retail area, ship’s chandlery, engineering and marine services.
The club is also home to the Marine Academy of Australia, standing ready, willing and able to educate members and non-members in the array of activities carried out at and from the CYC SA.
It is a recognised Yachting Australia training centre with qualified and accredited instructors. The academy also runs courses in Marine Radio certification, Coastal Navigation and Safety and Survival at Sea.
 | CYCSA members cruising - CYCSA_. |
Membership at the CYC SA usually varies in the 1100-1250 bracket and is about 50-50 power and sail.
Clubs within the club, such as the Game Fishing and Cruising Clubs, are dominated by power boats.
Craig Evans says the club is striving to confirm its membership numbers at 1500 within the next five-years.
There are a number of classes of membership available, ranging from Senior Member to Club Member, Crew Member to Junior Member. Only those holding Senior Membership status are eligible to vote and own marina or hard stand berths.
Every aspect of the CYC SA shows sheer professionalism.
Almost makes me wish I was a ‘croweater.’
For further information the club can be contacted on (08) 8248-4222 or for membership advice or applications e-mail to Craig.Evans@cycsa.com.au
 | Peter Page CYCSA Commodore - CYCSA_. |
 | CYCSA President Geoff Catt - CYCSA_. |
 | CYCSA General Manager Craig Evans - CYCSA_. |
by Bob Wonders Share
5:17 AM Thu 5 Jul 2007 GMT
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