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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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ORIGINAL LIFE MEMBERS
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B. BETTS
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L. V HUTCHESON
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G . CALAIS
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P. JARVIS
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C. CORIAS
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T. KNUDREN
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D. DELORIE
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G.E.A LEGRAND
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M. CUNNINGHAM
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J .OLIAJI
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L. ERNESTINE
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J.J.J PARDIWALLA
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C. GREEN
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D. QUIGGLE
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P. M HANDLEY
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K.P ROBERTS
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S. HARRISSON
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H .SAVY
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J.A HARSANT
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M . SAVY
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H . HUNT
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J.B WADIA
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PAST COMMODORES
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1966 N.A MICHEL
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1991 A. ANDERSON
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1967 E.C PASSMORE
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1991 N . WADIA
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1968 G.E.A LEGRAND
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1992 N WADIA
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1969 G.E.A LEGRAND
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1993 N. WADIA
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1970 G.E.A LEGRAND
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1994 C. POOL
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1971 Y.L.E SAVY
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1995 C. POOL
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1972 Y.L.E SAVY
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1996 B. POOL
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1973 N.A MICHEL
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1997 B. POOL
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1974 N.A MICHEL
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1998 B. POOL
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1975 I. FROST
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1999 A .CHETTY
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1976 K . WINDSOR
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2000 R.M CAMPBELL-BROWN
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1977 R. HARTER
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2001 A. RASSOOL
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1978 R . HARTER
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2002 S . LARUE
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1979 Y.L.E SAVY
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2003 B. POOL
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1980 Y.LE SAVY
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2004 B. POOL
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1981 Y.L.E SAVY
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2005 B. POOL
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1982 B. POOL
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2006 C .HOUAREAU
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1983 B. POOL
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2007 J . LABLACHE
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1984 B POOL
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2008 J. LABLACHE
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1985 J. WADIA
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2008 J.M PERRIN
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1986 J. WADIA
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2009 L. CHETTY
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1987 J. WADIA
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1988 B. POOL
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1989 B. POOL
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1990 A . ANDERSON
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