Port Owen Yacht Club celebrates 25 years – but the party started 26 years ago. . .
Velddrif news – The Port Owen Yacht Club in Velddrif officially celebrated its 25 anniversary on Saturday 20 November 2010.
However, the small beginnings of the fun-loving yachters actually started a year earlier, when friends would get together and hold their weekly parties on Gideon Langart’s boat, “Absolutely!” which was berthed in the Port Owen Marina 26 years ago.
This group of sailing enthusiasts, who used to party on “Absolutely!” each week, then moved into the bar above the restaurant in the workshop building, even before it was finished (the first gathering in the restaurant was held with the wine and snacks on builders planks resting on 44 gallon drums. This group subsequently held the inaugural meeting of the Port Owen Yacht Club about a year later, on 22 November 1985.
Much fun and merriment was had all those years ago. And on 20 November 2010, members and guests once again enjoyed a Saturday evening of entertainment, good fun and tasty food.
The entertainment from long ago, Cliff Richard style, was provided by Bruce Sanderson. Donations were given to NSRI, a worth-while cause indeed. Membership doubled when the Port Owen Timeshare came into being.
In 1989, negotiations between the Club and the Municipality led to the current Club House. Foundations were laid, and members pitched in to do some of the building work themselves, to keep costs down. What a team-spirit! Well done to all those who were actively involved.
The Club held a combined Opening Cruise and Roof Wetting ceremony on 5 November 1994.
With growing membership, the Club house needed enlarging, so fund-raising activities during 1996 paid the way for extensions that were completed in May 1997.
In April 2000, negotiations culminated in the purchase of the actual land, and in 2003, a boma, kitchen, bar and storeroom were added, as the popular West Coast Cruises brought many feet through the doors.
Further growth meant extensions to the kitchen and bar. Who knows what the future will bring, and many enjoyable hours will surely be spent in and around the Port Owen Yacht Club
.
