Dubai Marina Motor Yacht Club to boost region's marine sports

Captain Joe Goddard, General Manager, Dubai Marina Motor Yacht Club, said that more berthing facilities, a modern boat repair yard and a clubhouse customised to meet the demands of boat-owners will encourage more residents in Dubai's largest waterfront project of its kind to be further involved in marine sports and pastimes.

"The boat ownership ratio is 1:12 in Norway and 1:45 in Sydney but Dubai is fast catching up and evolving as a preferred marina sports destination because of the quality of facilities and services offered here," said Captain Goddard, a marina management professional with nearly three decades of experience working in Australia. He has served as the CEO of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and has the impeccable track-record of managing the grueling Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht race for three years.

Dubai Marina envisages the creation of five marinas of which two - the East Marina Stage I and II - are up and running and offer 180 berthing spaces. Along with the opening of Dubai Marina Motor Yacht Club, a third marina with 135 berths capacity will also be rolled out. With the fourth marina - the West Marina - opening, there will be over 550 berthing spaces for vessels as big as 70 ft and weighing over 50 tonnes.

"We are on-schedule with the opening of an advanced boat repair yard," said Captain Goddard. "The repair yard will have trained staff and advanced facilities to meet the demands of the growing boat owner community in Dubai."

The Dubai Marina Motor Yacht Club will have a limited membership targeted at individual owners of fine vessels and corporate members. "The clubhouse will have the ambience and facilities that befit an old-fashioned boat owner's club with a chart room/ library, pool table and cigar room, a restaurant serving seafood and a French Riviera-style coffeehouse and patisserie," added Captain Goddard. "There will be a number of retail outlets - all specializing in nautical equipment and supplies. For corporate members, we have a hi-tech seminar room for both training and hospitality."

The Club will also have walk-in memberships for sailors from far and wide who stop over in Dubai. "We are also in discussions with international boat owner clubs and are working to ensure cross-national membership privileges," said Captain Goddard. "We already work closely with the Dubai International Marine Centre and are looking at supporting world-class boating events that are held in Dubai like the America's Cup training camps and the Volvo Ocean Race."

Dubai Marina Motor Yacht Club is mandated with the management of all the marinas in Dubai Marina and has already officiated a private charter agency to conduct daily excursions into the Arabian Sea as well as fishing trips. "The marinas here are located close to the sea, which is just about a two-minute ride. This is of great convenience to boat owners, who can save considerable time and devote it for pursuing their passion," said Captain Goddard.

Environmentally conscious, the Dubai Marina Motor Yacht Club has already partnered with the global Clean Marinas Programme and also applied for the Gold Anchor recognition, which will place it on par with the best marinas in the world. The Club has also initiated safety seminars for boat owners.

Dubai Marina encompasses a large canal with 3.5 km of waterfront offering access to the sea from both ends. Frilling the canal are waterfront living apartments. Emaar has six high-rise clusters at Dubai Marina - Al Majara, Al Sahab, Dubai Marina Towers, Marina Promenade, Marina Quays and Park Island. Three of them - Majara, Al Sahab and the Dubai Marina Towers - have been completed and the keys handed over to buyers.