Haven Ports Yacht Club - worth it?

DennisF

DennisF

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 Dec 2011
Messages
273
Visit site
Hi all,

I'm moving my boat to Suffolk Yacht Harbour this year, and am wondering whether to join Haven Ports Yacht Club. For a family of 4 it isn't exactly cheap, and as I suspect our main use may be meals and drinks in the clubhouse when visiting the boat I'm wondering whether it is worth it. Not into racing, but might join in with organised cruises. What does the panel think - worth joining or just go to the pub 2 miles away and save the cash?
 
We have been at SYH for several years now and were also wondering if it is worth joining HPYC - we live locally so generally go sailing and then go home so would not really use the bar/restaurant; that said I would very much like to be part of a club so interested in peoples views...?
Shotley Point promotes the fact that they run a cheap but not stuffy club which appeals more but further to travel so again would we get the use?
 
I am based at Foxs and our yacht club is really very good these days with decent food and excellent beer.
There are various events on throughout the year.
We have members who are based at Foxs but also those who are based elsewhere.
Definitely non-stuffy and not expensive at all.
Have a look at the website here -
www.fmyc.org.uk
Feel free to PM me for more info.
 
wingdiver said:
I am based at Foxs and our yacht club is really very good these days with decent food and excellent beer.
There are various events on throughout the year.
We have members who are based at Foxs but also those who are based elsewhere.
Definitely non-stuffy and not expensive at all.
Have a look at the website here -
www.fmyc.org.uk
Feel free to PM me for more info.
Click to expand...

Quite inexpensive in all class`s of membership & a small detour from the A14 for any boaters travelling to or from Felixstowe or either bank of the Orwell & the 2 Rivers Event is not to be missed, a great fun day for all the family.
 
sailorman said:
Quite inexpensive in all class`s of membership & a small detour from the A14 for any boaters travelling to or from Felixstowe or either bank of the Orwell & the 2 Rivers Event is not to be missed, a great fun day for all the family.
Click to expand...

But it would be a drive from SYH, which would negate the possibility of beer and food near the boat - so I wouldn't be likely to use it much....
 
DennisF said:
But it would be a drive from SYH, which would negate the possibility of beer and food near the boat - so I wouldn't be likely to use it much....
Click to expand...

Would you walk to the pub 2 miles away ?

I suppose i'm lucky here at Shotley. I have the Shipwreck in the marina and the Bristol Arms a ten minute stroll, neither requiring membership. Plus, i have SPYC just along the road.

Shotley, the marina that just keeps giving :)
 
I was "stuck" in SYH for four days in June 2015. I found the HPYC a most friendly place, good food and very interesting/interested people - not at all stuffy. But I was only a visitor for v short stay.

However, when I paid my five nights short-stay berth fees on my final afternoon, by the time I had walked back to my boat they had cut-off my shore power.
THAT I did not find to be friendly.:disgust:
 
Robert Wilson said:
I was "stuck" in SYH for four days in June 2015. I found the HPYC a most friendly place, good food and very interesting/interested people - not at all stuffy. But I was only a visitor for v short stay.

However, when I paid my five nights short-stay berth fees on my final afternoon, by the time I had walked back to my boat they had cut-off my shore power.
THAT I did not find to be friendly.:disgust:
Click to expand...

SYH & HPYC are 2 different entities, just because you pave paid for a berth on an annual basis, does not give you club access
 
nigelm said:
Join the Rya , biggest club there is and just sign in as a visitor .

To be honest I don't like Hpyc after being on the receiving end of the "stuffiness" so wouldn't bother stopping there now ..
Click to expand...


Not looking for a bun fight here nigelm but....

....as the OP berths his boat at SYH surely he can't use the club without supporting it by joining and just visit as often as he likes just because he's in the RYA?

I've been a few times and always enjoyed our visits, not noticed any stuffiness either. It's not hard to adjust to your surroundings if required.
 
sailorman said:
Quite inexpensive in all class`s of membership & a small detour from the A14 for any boaters travelling to or from Felixstowe or either bank of the Orwell & the 2 Rivers Event is not to be missed, a great fun day for all the family.
Click to expand...
I like the yacht club and have popped in a few times over the years.

Went in there about 4 weeks ago for lunch and ordered a burger and chips. The place wasn't 'heaving'. Had to wait almost 40 mins before the food arrived.

As always, the staff are charming but unfortunately, as always, the service is on the slow side.

The food was good, honest grub. No complaints there.

Just wish that service was a little speedier.
 
Hi,

I've been a member of HPYC for some years and, without reading the rules, believe the "Visiting Yachtsman" precludes anyone with a permanent berth in SYH, also it is not limited to 6 visits per year, but, if visiting regularly, may be asked to apply for membership. However, non members may be signed in by a member as a guest on up to 6 occasions per year. These are not unusual constraints at yacht clubs and are put in place to cater for the needs of a club licence to sell alcohol.

I do not believe that we have a social membership class at HPYC and the only real option for the OP if he wants to use the lightship on a regular basis is to join.

Is it worth it? For my wife and I, the answer is clearly yes. The food and drink on LV 87 is not cordon bleu, but good honest food prepared well by club steward Ivan based mostly on fresh ingredients and his prices compare very well with most pubs. Even the Ship in Levington village is a fair trek on foot so, if you want a drink, and don't need the exercise, the Lightship is the only option.

Better still is the friendship. If you want to come and go with your boat without interacting with the other berth holders, the club may not be for you, but if you want to join in the lively discussions in the bar, attend some or all of the interesting presentations after dinner organised by the social committee or just meet your fellow berth holders, the club is ideal.

The annual membership sub of £130 for the first member is far from the most expensive yacht club sub and your family will add an extra £58 at the most. The savings you make on food / beer / wine in the club, compared to a typical pub will make a big hole in that, provided you use it. I recognise there is also a £50 joining fee, but that makes a total below £250, which is not a lot in terms of the cost of running a yacht.

In the end, it depends on you and your family. If you're likely to enjoy the benefits I've outlined, then it's good value. If not then it isn't. If you're still uncertain, why not go into the bar one lunchtime or evening, introduce youreelf to the bar staff and ask them to introduce you to some members who would be only to happy to invite as their guest and discuss the joys of membership with them.

Lastly, although you're not into racing, perhaps one of your children would get to know some racers and try it out. There's no faster way for them to pick up sailing skills.

Peter.
 
Good question ..... trawel the clubs webb sites and you see the related costs for a couple or family and what they offer in return. Most of the clubs in our sailing area have premises with overheads to sustain that adds to membership costs that you have to underpin with unsubsidused food and drink.

Shotley Point Yacht Club are fully supported by Shotley marina we have the Shipwreck restreaunt , bar, on site..... yes the food and drink is not subsidused but the yacht club don't own the premises so all the yearly club subsriptions is invested in organising sailing events / cruisers and other events Jan to Dec for our valued members. Come along and give it a try as our guests ... we also have members based in SYH .

The emphasis is on our members having fun sailing in club organised events & cruisers in company of fellow members , friendly unstuffy and + 40 listed this season so take your pick the best VFM check it out or get in touch.

SPYC may be cheep join but what they deliver is 100% what the sailing members want in todays financial climate a VFM club membership with sole focus on sailing events.
 
Finchy said:
Good question ..... trawel the clubs webb sites and you see the related costs for a couple or family and what they offer in return. Most of the clubs in our sailing area have premises with overheads to sustain that adds to membership costs that you have to underpin with unsubsidused food and drink.

Shotley Point Yacht Club are fully supported by Shotley marina we have the Shipwreck restreaunt , bar, on site..... yes the food and drink is not subsidused but the yacht club don't own the premises so all the yearly club subsriptions is invested in organising sailing events / cruisers and other events Jan to Dec for our valued members. Come along and give it a try as our guests ... we also have members based in SYH .

The emphasis is on our members having fun sailing in club organised events & cruisers in company of fellow members , friendly unstuffy and + 40 listed this season so take your pick the best VFM check it out or get in touch.

SPYC may be cheep join but what they deliver is 100% what the sailing members want in todays financial climate a VFM club membership with sole focus on sailing events.
Click to expand...

While I agree that SPYC is also an excellent club, it is a very different proposition from HPYC and hardly provides for the OP'S stated need of food and drink while at the boat, which happens to be in SYH.
 
I dont have to be any yacht club member to go into the Shipwreck at Shotleyy but you will have to eventuly become club yacht member to go in the Lightship at Levington and at some cost .....

If i was a prospective member and I am not intrested in yacht racing in a club that cruising is second string then what am I getting for my money .

Nothing againts Ivan and the team at Lightship ... top block and a friend
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top