The Club

Situated on the banks of Sadgroves Creek, Dinah Beach Cruising Yacht Association (DBCYA) is a unique member-based community club just 2km from Darwin CBD off Tiger Brennan Drive and a short walk from the Frances Bay Mooring Basin and Tipperary Waters Marina. From humble beginnings in 1982, the club now boasts a healthy membership and offers excellent yachting facilities for local and visiting yachts people.

The venue also has popular social facilities and thousands come to enjoy the laid-back ambience in the bar, listen to live music and enjoy a bite to eat by the sea. DBCYA prides itself on being a rare and rustic no-nonsense venue that provides no gambling facilities, just a great open-air atmosphere to encourage connection with like-minded peers and pals.

Mini buses and taxis will come to the door or public transport is accessible by a five minute walk. Within rental Neuron motorised pushbike range. When approaching by sea it is best to have a good study of the chart first to help guide you through the harbour.

Boat chandlery stores are within walking distance of the Club and private arrangements may be made with the many DBCYA members who have professional skills to assist with repairs and maintenance. The Club does not itself offer boat-building, chandlery, repair or maintenance services – the use of our practical facilities is on a DIY basis only.

Our Wet Season Race Series (nine races from November – March) has four divisions (racing and cruising) with which to take part in the excitement of racing on Darwin Harbour during a wet season tropical storm season, meet peers and prepare for cruising.  We also coordinate the 630nm open water Spice Islands Darwin Ambon Yacht Race.

Throughout the year the club offers a wide range of land based entertainment. Live music three nights per week, pop-up quiz nights, theme occasions and auctions are but a few of the social activities members enjoy. Our Mega Annual Viking Funeral, Pirate Party and New Years Eve party have become institutions on the Darwin social calendar.

Lat/Long: S 12° 27.087′ E 130° 50.953′

OUR COLOURFUL HISTORY

Dinah Beach originated in the early days of the pearling fleets operating out of Darwin. Luggers were careened here roughly at the point where the entrance to the club is now situated.

After WWII, pearling began to decline and a few intrepid yachties began to drag their boats ashore where the luggers had once been. There, among the mangroves, our founding members built and repaired their boats and created the spirit that has pervaded our club ever since.

The Association was formed in 1982.

From these small beginnings, the facilities were conceived and developed by members past and present, some of who have become life members and whose names are inscribed on the guttering beneath the tarpaulin roof of the club.

We named our covered area “The Song Saigon Bar”, after the Vietnamese vessel which brought boat people to Darwin in the 70’s and was beached here for a while.

The below aerial photo was taken in 1983 and shows the careening poles in position, but our wharf was not yet built. The neighbouring area has undergone significant change, with much land reclaimation and property development since then. This shows the original Tiger Brennan Road.