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History of the Seychelles Yacht Club
There is a tale of a high-ranking British official who sailed
his personal yacht from the island of Zanzibar in the early
1960's and moored off Hodoul Island. When he stepped ashore at
what used to be the Short Pier garlanded with a toilet seat
around his neck, he became greatly dismayed to find that
Seychelles did not have a yacht club.
Soon after, this gentleman was to be appointed the Colonial
Secretary and with backing from the Governor he got a group of
local personages interested in founding a yacht club.
Thus in June 1963, Dr. J.Corbin, Capl. NA.Michel, A.Mason
N,Brooks. K.B.Thomas, K.Bolton, H,Savy, D,Forster and D.Moor
organised themselves into a Steering Committee, and in a letter
dated 9th September 1963, submitted proposals to the Colonial
Secretary, GP, Lloyd for a yacht club to be built on 7000 sq ft
of state land at the head of the Short Pier.
An argument then arose about the status of this land, requiring
the Attorney General to institute procedures to change it from 'domaine
publique' to 'domaine prive'. Following publication of
Notification No. 345 of 14th October 1963, S.Calais raised
objections on behalf of the inhabitants of the inner islands,
who by tradition had used this pier as a landing area: and Dr.
Stevenson Delhomme, chairman, Victoria District Council, wanted
mooring rights preserved, and sardine fishermen to continue
landing their catch on the pier.
Those objections were soon resolved and by 19th October 1963
application was made through the Tourism Development Fund for a
loan of R15 000/-, repayable in 4 years, "to meet cost of
lockers, WC, changing facilities. Showers, possible boat shed, a
16ft boat with an 8 HP outboard and a sailboat of equal size"
The Seychelles Yacht Club was registered on 9th January 1964.
In February 1961 the Governor was briefed on progress made so
far and by 25th February the same year as loan of R10,000/- was
approved on condition that the club would raise R5 000/- from
Barclays Bank. Appeals for guarantors from "reasonably solid
citizens" appeared on 14th March 1964 in the Government
Bulletin, Le Seychellois and Seychelles Weekly
The loan was finalised in 16th April 1964.
Mrs, Mary Haywood, who later on 6th November 1967 donated a
painting of the old Long Pier, was commissioned to design the
club's badge and burgee in September 1961.
in February 1965 a contract for R12.000/- plus 10 percent was
awarded to W & C French to build a clubhouse, which today
occupies the manager's office, kitchen and toilet areas.
Collection of monthly subscriptions began on 1st October 1965.
Durban's Point Yacht Club became the first club to offer
reciprocity in June 1966, His Excellency the Governor became the
first patron on 28th September 1966 and the club was officially
opened on 10th December 1966. That same night Robert Frichot
became the first member to receive a warning for defacing the
visitors' book.
Among those who took up membership:
A.Mason 9/1/64, Auguste Michel 13/01/64. Robert Frichot
10/01/61, Marcel Fayon 18/10/64, Andre Delhomme 12/12/64, Michel
doffay 12/12/64, Martin Dadswell 22/12/64. Yvon Savy 13/01/65,
Marcel Moulinie 11/03/66, Norman Gardner 28/10/66, Wills Gardner
02/12/66, Chamery Chetty 01/05/67, FA. Rene 08/05/68, Yunas
Suleman 06/06/68, Micky Mason 06/01/68. Rene Michel 04/07/68.
Jim Webb 04/07/68. Yacub Chaka 04/09/68.
In February 1967 the club submitted an application to build the
jetty.
The Seychelles Sailing Association merged with the Yacht Club in
April 1967 By 1968 the Club boasted 139 members, and
subscription was R40/- per quarter.
Among 4 applicants interested to lease the bar in September 1968
were Ben Choppy and KD Pillay.
Mention was made in November 1968 to extend the Club. Architect
Peter Welis estimated the cost at R62 121.25 at a Special
General Meeting on 28th December 1968 In May 1972 commercial
craft were excluded from using the club facilities After
reclamation around the Short Pier was completed, the club was
offered the lease of Plot No.774, No.10 and No11 on 26th
September 1974.
In 1976 an International Yachting Race from Durban to the Indian
Ocean island was proposed but never took place.
Arthur Tuck, Sailing Secretary, tabled plans in December 1976
for the formation of a Junior Sailing Section, which would later
become the Sail Training Scheme, now affiliated to the
Seychelles Yachting Association. Two sailing instructors, Van
Goulding and Francis Chapman. arrived in Seychelles in September
1977. It was then proposed in 1978 that the STS would merge with
the Sea Training sponsored by the French Government.
In June 1977, soon after purchase of the spiral staircase from
Kingsgate House for use as a fire escape, the club began
experiencing severe financial difficulties. By September the
situation was critical with debts of over R250 000/-.
Maintenance on the building was delayed despite warning of the
precarious state of the roof. A portion blew off in August and
during a nighttime gale in March 1978 the rest of the
gull-winged roof landed in the sea.
The manager was fired, and Capt. NA. Michel, appointed as the
new manager, came to the rescue.
Minister Guy Sinon, ex-patron asked a pardon from the Somali
Government on behalf of the crew of yacht "Julie II" in July
1977 after they had been condemned as spies when running
aground.
By 20th April 1978. a committee and volunteers made up of Roger
Harter, Jack Hill, Arthur Tuck, Peter Ward, Praful Mulji, Dereck
Gregory, and Harry "Ledan" Mathiot, now deceased, set to work on
the roof, having been thrown a financial lifeline by Banque
Francaise Commerciale.
On 29th September 1978 a "roofwarming" party was held.
At the AGM in 1981, the Commodore announced that the club's
finances were once again in the black, prompting certain
improvements to the kitchen and office.
In 1983, as past consideration for a 20-year lease on land
occupied by the club. R192,000/- was spent on a new wing to
house the Sail Training Scheme (STS).
A lean-to was built on the north side in 1987 and a further
R200,000- was spent to renovate the club in 1988 including the
addition of the sun deck.
The club played a major role in hosting the Yachting events of
the Indian Ocean Games of 1992 with the Seychelles team coming
out winners.
Further renovations were undertaken in 1999 after the Annual
General Meeting had approved an expenditure of R300 000/-. The
dining area was tiled and the whole club repainted.
The club hosted the 'Clipper' Round the World Race yachts during
their 10-day stopover in May 1999.
We sadly lost our manager of 9 years standing, Mr. George Rene
in May 1999.
Membership in 1999 stood at 345 members of which there were 143
Full, 126 Associate, 15 Life, 11 Country, 12 Honorary and 31
Absent. Subscription is R250/- per quarter and the entrance fee
was raised to R2000/-.
The club lease expired in 2003 and in 2009 has still not been
renewed by the government
The club suffered extensive damage during the tsumani of 26th
December 2004, the bar was rebuilt facing Hodoul Island. The
floor was raised as the bar was being flooded at high tides with
the rise in sea level. In 2008 subscription was raised to R500/-
per quarter and the entrance fee R4,000/-. In 2008 Jacquelin
Lablache , the commodore passed away. A point of sales system
was installed at the bar in May 2009. In June 2009 part of the
sundeck which was damaged during the Tsumani was finally
repaired.
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