Lake Deneys Yacht Club - LDYC
Located an hour’s drive from Johannesburg Lake Deneys Yacht Club (LDYC) provides a family geared weekend and holiday haven for approximately 830 adults and 1200 young members. LDYC is a club for members run by members. During the Annual General Meeting members elect a Management Committee which voluntarily oversees the running of LDYC.
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Circa 1958 LDYC was one of the Vaal Dam’s first yacht clubs founded by a bunch of passionate sailors. From its humble beginning of a few tents and caravans, today 67 acres house 150 caravan sites interspersed with common green areas. Initially a yachting-only facility, the club now welcomes serious and learner sailors, leisurely dam cruisers, power-boaters, jet skiers, canoeists, boogie boarders or simply weekend refugees from urban bustle. There is a dedicated slipway for launching powerboats.
The club's Speedbird emblem on the burgee (pennant) originated from British Imperial Airways (later BOAC and now British Airways), which used the Vaal Dam as a landing strip for their flying boats en route to India. In June 1937, 3.500 lbs of mail was delivered to South Africa by Canopus, an S.23 Empire Class Flying Boat. The 5-strong crew and 24 passengers stayed over in the Deneysville Hotel, which has since been demolished. With airports almost non-existent, waterways across Africa were used for landing and refuelling overnight. The Vaal Dam was the southernmost terminal to Cape Town and probably South Africa’s first international airport. The service ran until 1950.
The Annual ‘Round the Island Race’ – An International Record Breaker
Hosted over the first weekend in February, this event has become a national sailing institution. The scale and organisation of the Round the Island Race event has grown somewhat from 40 competitors 60 years ago. In 1998 the record fleet to date was 712 boats. Over the past few years the entry fleet has averaged around 420. Around 3,500 sailors, their families and supporters camp on the grounds and enjoy a jam packed sailing and social weekend. LDYC still holds the Guinness World RecordTM won for the 2007 race in the category of ‘The most yachts to finish an inland yacht race’. The boats numbered 389.
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Club facilities include:
150 Electrified caravan sites
Spotless bathrooms with gas-powered hot water baths and showers
Ample camping space
Weekend accommodation in bunk rooms and a 6 sleeper self-contained cottage for rent by members or their guests
Stylish clubhouse with a bar offering discounted club prices and the ‘The Wharf’ restaurant for snacks and meals throughout the weekend and a fireplace for cosy winter evenings
Snacks, coldrinks and ice
3 Big screens tuned into DSTV sports channels for sporting enthusiasts
Canopied patio area overlooking the large fenced swimming pool, foreshore and yacht basin and spectacular sunsets
Hooded gas braais on the patio and central braai area in front of the Clubhouse
Prolific bird life and indigenous flora for those interested in gentler pursuits
Sailing and water-sport facilities:
Junior and adult sailing courses available
Main railway jetty for yachts
Powerboat slipway and jetty
Harbour with walk on moorings
Catamaran tie-down area
Yacht launching slipway
51 Yacht basin secure and regularly inspected moorings
Dry sailing area accommodates 300 boats
Catamaran tie-down area
Repair gantry
