ANALYSIS : Reasons To Join The Royal Suva Yacht Club

The Royal Suva Yacht Club (RSYC) has echoes of a past way of life but provides a great range of services and amenities that make it a favourite retreat for a wide spread of Suva residents.

It is a true yacht and operates a completion calendar for members with yachts but it also has a very active and enjoyable social calendar that has something for all tastes.

The history of Royal Suva Yacht Club

The Christmas and New Year parties are legendary and every year in November the Club holds a Melbourne Cup party complete with legal betting and fashion show with a special section for the flamboyant hats this event usually attracts.

The Yacht Club is situated in Walu Bay, right on the water and is mostly housed in an original timber building that was built when the club moved to this site in 1940.

The building has been carefully preserved and maintained by Club Committees over the intervening period.

It has a big hall that is used for special occasions and special entertainment events and a grand Ball every year hosted by the Yacht Club, very formal and good fun.

There is a large indoor bar area and a veranda bar overlooking the lawn that runs out to the water’s edge.

A separate Bure Bar and large barbeque area is located on the lawn down closer to the water and there is a third area for refreshments in the main building but with interesting views of the lawn and marina.

Members and their guests are also encouraged to enjoy lunch and beverages at the tables set up around the lawn.

The club facilities

The club facilities are for Members but their guests are always welcomed warmly and can enjoy all the facilities when they are with a Member.

The Club has a dedicated restaurant called The Galley as part of the main building which is open for breakfast from 7am and continues right through to 9.30pm for lunch and dinner.

The restaurant is of course licenced and shares a good wine cellar with the main bar.

There is also a barbecue service in the lawn Bure that operates for lunch and dinner.

Bar snacks can also be provided on request.

Membership

As a Royal Yacht Club there is membership reciprocity, which allows Suva Members into many Yacht Clubs around the world with full use of their services.

This opens up places that are normally closed to tourists or visitors and is an interesting additional benefit.

I have had a delightful lunch on several occasions at the Marseilles Yacht Club Restaurant, situated in the old port area.

It is impossible to park in Marseilles but the Yacht Club has a vast parking area that is generally empty.

Similar delights are available in most major cities in the World, just remember to take your card.

The Club has a very large and active marina used by both local and international cruising yachts as well as the yachts that make up the local yacht racing fleet. One of the attractions of the Club is watching the boats in the Marina.

Junior Sailing Fleet

The Club also as a Junior Sailing Fleet that offers sailing lessons to children and teens and the kids really enjoy the fun of learning.

The club fleet is mainly optimist dinghies and Lasers, Olympic class skiffs.

The club provides teachers most weekends and all classes area accompanied by a safety boat. Children are always welcome at the club and there is a special playground facility close to the bar so the parents can enjoy the social environment and still keep an eye of the kids.

On sunny days the very large lawns around the club house allow for plenty of energetic games.

The Club is entered from the Queens Road just past the prison where you will find a large parking area.

The Club has continuous manned security every day of the week and is open every day from 6.00 until late.

Members can also hire the Club’s facilities for family events, charity fund raising or private business function.

At very good rates.

Many members find the Club, because of the proximity to the city and the always available parking, and the reasonably exclusive nature of the membership an ideal place to meet business colleagues or clients for an afternoon drink or use the restaurant for a business lunch.

Suva Royal Suva Yacht club experience

It also gives an interesting feeling for the old Suva.

The Royal Suva Yacht Club is an interesting combination of old world charm and an easy relaxed ambiance, with a convenient location and excellent security.

If you feel you may be able to make use of the facilities please come down and a Member or one of the staff will sign you into the Club. Alternatively you are welcome to come and use the restaurant without being a member.

Just let Security know and they will direct you.

Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj