The Port of Cape Town has no space for the famous Royal Cape Yacht Club in the long term and will fill in the existing club marina with concrete to make space for ship repair.
That’s according to its latest development plan available for public comment, which proposes to evict RCYC after 2052.
The plan coincides with news the department of transport will accommodate foreign-owned Karpowership vessels at three other South African Ports — Richards Bay, Saldanha and Gqeberha.
The long-term fate of RCYC, a world-renowned yachting club and resting place for passing yachts, is not entirely unexpected due to space constraints at Cape Town Port.
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is under pressure to expand its container terminal and ship repair facilities. However, it is unclear what will become of RCYC, a cornerstone of the local maritime tourism sector.
The club is accommodated under a 20-year lease that expires at the end of the year — and looks set to be renewed — but as things stand it will ultimately need to find a new home outside the port.
According to TNPA’s recently published Port Development Framework Plan update the long-term vision for Cape Town features the following item: “Infill at the Royal Cape Yacht Club (Small Craft Basin) to provide additional area for maritime engineering.”
The document does make provision for commercial tourism activities at the cruise terminal site, but the site is not suitable for marina development.
Earlier this month TNPA commenced a series of roadshow meetings with maritime stakeholders to present its framework plan.
TNPA has faced criticism over the years over its stance on yacht clubs and recreational boating, particularly in Mossel Bay and Gqeberha, where sailing clubs have had to vacate due to huge tariff increases — to the detriment of recreational boating. However, TNPA’s latest development plan makes provision for recreational boating at most of the country’s major Ports, with Cape Town a notable exception.
Maritime sources say the omission has implications for tourism in light of RCYC being the official port of entry for visiting yachts that are prohibited from entering the port’s commercial precinct.
At one stage the club investigated an alternative marina site outside the port in Granger Bay, but costs are prohibitive.
Acting port manager Zanele Dywibiba confirmed: "The current activity in the yacht basin is accommodated from the years 2022 to 2052, which period has been categorised as being in the short to medium term.
"Recreational boating or related uses are activities that can be accommodated in the port as well as outside of the port’s limits. When a lease expires, TNPA follows a public and transparent process to advertise the available site. One of TNPA’s mandates is to enable economic growth and in line with this, the port continues to collaborate with all stakeholders to optimise the value proposition of the port and to ensure that the port continues to contribute positively to the local economy."
RCYC commodore Neil Gregory said the club had affected major renovations and upgrading of facilities, moorings and launch facilities “to cater for all South Africans that want to get involved with sailing”.
Recent dialogue between the TNPA and South African Sailing has resulted in a firm statement from the TNPA that sailing will be accommodated in all state operated ports.
— Michael Robinson, OSASA director
He said visiting cruising boats made a major contribution to the local economy. The club had yet to finalise a “Plan B” should TNPA go ahead with the infilling project.
The Ocean Sailing Association of Southern Africa this week spoke of a “new era” in dialogue between the sailing community and government authorities, which might ultimately result in RCYC being accommodated in the port’s long-term plans.
“In particular, recent dialogue between the TNPA and South African Sailing has resulted in a firm statement from the TNPA that sailing will be accommodated in all state operated ports,” said OSASA director Michael Robinson.
“At the same time, South African Sailing affiliated clubs have been granted leases at preferential rates for reasonable periods of tenure.
“We are optimistic that the current positive relationship between the authorities and the sailing community will continue into the future and that the sailing community will be included in any future planning for South African ports,” Robinson said.
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