CLUB IN FOCUS: Nedlands Yacht Club (NYC)

The Nedlands Yacht Club started in 1952 as a breakaway from the Mounts Bay Yacht Club. Prompted by a policy decision limiting the sailing age for the new VJ class yacht, the section was told if they didn’t like it, they could go elsewhere. So, they did, and the Subiaco Yacht Club was born.

After spending years carrying their yachts a considerable distance to the water from where they were stored thanks to a generous local business. Under the leadership of Jack LeMaistre, members with and without building skills, took 20 weekends working amongst the bamboo to build their club house. Notable efforts of Barry Murtha, an apprentice builder at the time spending every spare minute on the project, the posthumously known ‘Junior Clubhouse’ was finished. It was that new that during the season opening ceremony on November 5, 1955, the flag couldn’t be raised as the pole was still covered in wet paint.

Several name changes later, the Nedlands Yacht Club was established, and the building was subsequently entered City of Nedlands heritage inventory. From the early years the club has had a long-standing history, especially with the multihull fleets of Perth. VJs and Skates (1950’s); Moth, Pelican, 20ft Cats, 16ft Cats, Quickcat, Cherub, Kitty Cat, Manta, Yvonne and Mirror (1960’s); Hobie, Tornado, Lazy E – National E, Paper Tiger, Fireball, Cruisers, Manly Junior, 125s – National 125 and Sailboards (1970’s); Windrush and Lasers (1980’s).

In 1984 the original 20-year-old jetty was replaced and refurbished over a two-year period to include common amenities typically taken for granted now-a-days. The NYC was the first yacht club in Australia to be authorised as an Authorised Training Centre (1980/81) and the first to conduct a course under the National Training Scheme. The club continues this tradition to this day with a variety of on and off the water courses at their picturesque location on the Swan River. 

Situated on the foreshore of the Swan River at Nedlands, with wide grassy lawns and sandy beaches, Nedlands Yacht Club is the perfect location for sailing. 

For more information visit the Nedlands Yacht Club website:  nyc.org.au/our-club

Special thanks to Warren Erasmus for story submission.