Southport Yacht Club - more than a yacht club

by Bob Wonders on 22 Apr 2008 Spars towering above the marina arms, breezes whistling through halyards, numerous sailing trophies within glass cabinets in the club’s foyer, the stern looks of former Commodores staring down from their official photographs.

Well, it may just be that Southport Yacht Club is more powerboat than sailboat!

Not my words, that tip came from the club’s general manager, Joe Goddard.

'The powerboat members of the club are a very tight knit and powerful group,' Joe explained. 'And dare I say it, we’re almost predominantly a powerboat club.

'The powerboat committee runs numerous log and cruising events throughout the year and they do a very good job when it comes to using their boats.

'That is what this club is all about, members using and enjoying their boats,' he said.

The Southport Yacht Club owns three facilities; there’s the main club and marina at Main Beach, an additional club house at Hollywell, where many of the club’s youth sailing programs are run from, and on South Stradbroke Island there ‘Dux’, a member’s retreat complete with full time caretaker, barbecue areas and the usual facilities.

Southport Yacht Club now boasts 3641 members, its marina has 300 berths and there are 63 moorings managed by the club on behalf of the State Government.

Goddard hopes work will begin shortly on what has been termed ‘Stage 3’ of the club’s upgrading.
'It will signal the end of the final sector of the original club house,' he explained.

The club hopes to finance the work through the sale of its superyacht berths; it marketed six berths, there are two left. Each can safely accommodate superyachts to 50.0-metres (164-feet) and will cost an interested owner $750,000, plus GST, for a 12-year lease! The berths each have four power outlets, freshwater, telephone points and internet capability.'

Some might view the cost of a 12 month lease as expensive, but we’ve priced them on current market rates,' Goddard said.

The club’s restaurant has become one of the most popular destinations on the coast, with a packed house the norm for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

'It may seem hard for some to believe, but I’d say60 percent of my time is devoted to food and beverage issues,' Goddard said.

'Our restaurant is as busy, in some cases busier, than similar facilities in the international hotels along the Gold Coast,' he added.

A new executive chef, Englishman Paul Huxtable, has introduced a new menu and win list which is proving popular with members and guests.



Incidentally, all is not lost for sailboat fans.

Goddard said the club’s sailing manager, Shane Smith, was doing a 'tremendous job' concentrating on the youth program’s dinghy classes.

'He’s already got some of our kids winning their classes in competition against other clubs,' he added.

Southport Yacht Club also conducts the annual Gold Coast-Byron Bay and return race each year, with valuable sponsorship from Audi cars.

And the club is the venue and source of great hospitality for yachtsmen in the annual Sydney-Gold Coast race scheduled for August.

'Our sailing committee is also looking at the prospect of hosting and staging events to Coffs Harbour and Hamilton Island,' Goddard added.

Powerboat or sailboat, the Southport Yacht Club is superbly situated and is a boon to its members and guests.
For those visiting the coast or locals who are yet to try the club restaurant, take my word and go for it.
It will make perfectly good sense to make a reservation first.

For further information, contact the club, telephone (07) 5591-3500.