Ostend

[Fr J Hackett]

Thoroughly enjoyed our first short trip to Ostend and RNSYC which was very impressive with a friendly welcome from the harbour master and staff, the harbour must get very full their can't be more space than for 70 boats so with local boats we don't expect to have so much room on our next visit. The town was pleasant with what looked to be lots of good places to eat so it's definitely going to be on our list of favourite places.

What puzzled me somewhat was how is such a large and well placed club funded I guess most members keep their boats in the Mercator marina and ROYC marina further into the town. At 24 Euro a night electricity included is not expensive by UK standards East Coast excepted apart from West Mersea that is. So they can't make that much from visitors.

Glad we went. allready looking forward to the next time.

 

[Koeketiene]

Thoroughly enjoyed our first short trip to Ostend and RNSYC which was very impressive with a friendly welcome from the harbour master and staff, the harbour must get very full their can't be more space than for 70 boats so with local boats we don't expect to have so much room on our next visit. The town was pleasant with what looked to be lots of good places to eat so it's definitely going to be on our list of favourite places.

What puzzled me somewhat was how is such a large and well placed club funded I guess most members keep their boats in the Mercator marina and ROYC marina further into the town. At 24 Euro a night electricity included is not expensive by UK standards East Coast excepted apart from West Mersea that is. So they can't make that much from visitors.

Glad we went. allready looking forward to the next time.

HM Robert has been known to pack as many as 120 boats in his dock - all expertly stacked following his directions. Disobey at your peril.

Do not think of ever doing a runner without paying. Robert's arm is long and his vengeance is total.

Club funding: There's some 'patronage' - a few (very) rich members give money to the club each year.

There's also quite a large membership - 750+ - all of them paying a 'not cheap' annual membership fee (currently €250 p/a).
Only about 10% of the membership are active sailors - the rest join because it's 'chic' and to be able to take their friends/business relations for meals at the yacht club restaurant.
Whilst this keeps the club financially sound, you're sometimes left with a feeling that as an active sailor you're an inconvenience.

 

[sailorman]

and he doesnt like Dragon owners

 

[Koeketiene]

and he doesnt like Dragon owners

Nor owners of a certain brand of 'built to a price' German boats

 

[Fr J Hackett]

It must be fun to watch the mooring antics on a crowded summers day even with Roberts help and a empty marina a couple of boats gave up and went else where one because they hadn't got a warp long enough to reach from boat to mooring bouy and back, one who wanted to moor alongside where the club boats moor and had an exchange with Robert they left quickly All fun to watch

 

[sailorman]

It must be fun to watch the mooring antics on a crowded summers day even with Roberts help and a empty marina a couple of boats gave up and went else where one because they hadn't got a warp long enough to reach from boat to mooring bouy and back, one who wanted to moor alongside where the club boats moor and had an exchange with Robert they left quickly All fun to watch

Robert has moved "His Humble Boat" to allow me to use the space

 

[Marmalade]

Nor owners of a certain brand of 'built to a price' German boats

Ooh err - what's he got against Bavs then? (one of the boats we may be bringing across later this month is one such).

 

[Koeketiene]

Ooh err - what's he got against Bavs then? (one of the boats we may be bringing across later this month is one such).

I wouldn't want to spoil it for you, but why don't you ask him?
It really is a most entertaining rant performed by a true master of the genre

 

[Wunja]

It really is a most entertaining rant performed by a true master of the genre

And we'll probably be able to hear it in Brugge!

 

[Doineann]

Don’t know if it is true (and too frightened to ask him), but I was told that he runs the place as a franchise.

 

[sailorman]

Don’t know if it is true (and too frightened to ask him), but I was told that he runs the place as a franchise.

small salary from the club + commission