Yacht Club renovations
Improvements at Coquet Yacht Club (CYC) have started, with plans to create a balcony area for diners with new workshops and stores to support the club’s activities.
The building boasts enviable views from the harbour mouth along the estuary and up to Warkworth Castle.
Commodore Phil Derry, said “We’ve got the sea, the river and the castle view, so we’re adding a balcony to take even more advantage of the wonderful views including sunsets over Warkworth Castle.”
The club, which now has over 350 members, is run entirely by volunteers and is becoming more and more popular. As the dinghy and water activities develop, friends and parents will be able to watch their families on the water – providing an atmosphere that is hard to beat.
“Our fees are much less than other clubs” said Phil,.“Membership has increased by 75% in the last 18 months and this upsurge in popularity has meant that we have been able to fund the improvements from membership fees and club revenues.”
Work will be carried out in three stages; Phase one will see the clearing of woodland behind the building, creating the structure and base for the balcony with space for dinghies and workshops underneath. Phase two will see the balcony finished hopefully by mid-June. The final phase will see the replacement of the pontoon in the river and the disused toilet block turned into showers and changing facilities for dinghy and water sports activities
“The yacht club was inaugurated in Amble in 1964; initially it was a caravan in Amble Boat Yard. So 2014 is our fiftieth anniversary” said Phil.
“The current membership includes many local families, of all ages (1 to 92), and about 40 craft of all types. A new moorings raft has been built so if you need a river mooring for yacht or motor boat please contact the club”.
The club is RYA (Royal Yachting Association) affiliated, and is progressing towards becoming an RYA recognised training establishment for sail and power boats and is also preparing to run courses for beginners of all ages.
“We try to buy all our needs in town and it’s important to us that we are part of the Amble and Warkworth community as well as a tourist attraction. It is very unusual for a club like ours to be in the heart of a community. Our members, both local and distant spend their money in the town whether it be restaurants, ice cream, fuel, boat bits and pieces and rations for their trips,” said Phil.
“Coquet Yacht Club is open Fridays and Sundays in the winter. In the summer we are open
as much as we can be but mainly Wednesday and Friday nights and all day Saturday and Sundays. As well as a well-stocked cost effective bar and excellent food the club has just purchased a Starbucks Coffee Machine.
“We’re open to visitors. We’ve had birthday parties, marriages and anniversaries here and the food is really popular. Our Sunday lunches go down an absolute bomb! We’ve got an excellent wine selection and where else can you buy a decent pint of beer for £2.50?” he laughed. “Come and see us.”
