Looking for a place to dock your yacht and go sailing in Malaysia? Find your perfect match with our survey of the best yacht clubs in Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo.
For adventurous yachties hoping to venture off the beaten track, Malaysia offers stunning cruising grounds and is host to some of Southeast Asia’s most prestigious yacht races – including the epic Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta. The most famous yacht club in Malaysia is undoubtedly the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club but there are a number of other royal yacht clubs dotted around peninsular Malaysia and the islands. Royal Selangor Yacht Club and the Royal Port Dickinson Yacht Club are other popular favourites.
The well-known Perak Yacht Club may have closed down but there are plenty of others still alive and well throughout the country, some with facilities that could even rival the best yacht clubs in neighbouring Singapore. Read on to discover the best yacht clubs in Malaysia and where to find them.
The best yacht clubs to visit in Malaysia
1. Royal Langkawi Yacht Club
Langkawi is arguably the biggest yachting hub in Malaysia. Opened in 1996, The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club is the island’s most prominent institution, home of the Royal Langkawi International Regatta and the last checkpoint of the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta. The club has 324 berths that can accommodate yachts up to 80 metres LOA and some of its previous guests have included superyachts Langkawi Lady and Energy Observer.
Address: Jalan Dato Syed Omar, Kuah, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah
Sutera Harbour Marina, Golf & Country Club
Kota Kinabalu’s Sutera Harbour Marina & Country Club was opened in 1998 and is one of the main points of entry for yachts cruising around Borneo. Alongside the 104 yacht berths, members of the club enjoy access to a stunning coastal golf course and marina facilities as well as sports courts, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a bowling alley and a movie theatre.
Address: 1 Sutera Harbour Boulevard, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
3. Admiral Marina & Leisure Club
Operated by the Avillion hotel group, Admiral Marina & Leisure club is located on the west coast of Malaysia halfway between Kuala Lumpur to the north and Malacca to the south. Members enjoy access to the hotel’s accommodation and dining outlets, as well as being able to dock yachts up to 65 metres LOA in one of the 90 berths. Membership is offered for 50 years and has a starting fee beginning at MYR 14,000, followed by a monthly subscription of MYR 100. It is a reciprocal club to Singapore’s best yacht clubs including Raffles Marina, Changi Sailing Club, ONE15 Marina and the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club.
Address: Avillion Admiral Cove, 5 1/2 Miles Jalan Pantai, 71050 Si Rusa, Negeri Sembilan
4. Royal Selangor Yacht Club
Placed at the mouth of Port Klang, Royal Selangor Yacht Club is the main gathering spot for the Kuala Lumpur yachting crowd. It was first opened in 1963 and since then has grown to a community of over 1,000 members with a fleet of 220 yachts. The club has a very active sailing scene, hosting regular regattas and fishing races and also being the starting point for the annual Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta. Ordinary membership costs MYR 5,000 with a monthly subscription of MYR 90.
Address: Jalan Shahbandar, 42000 Port Klang, Selangor Darul Ehsan
5. Royal Port Dickson Yacht Club
Reportedly built as early as 1927, Royal Port Dickson is one of the oldest clubs in Malaysia. The club, which is located in the popular beach resort town of Port Dickson, 90km south of Kuala Lumpur, was granted Royal status in 1990. Facilities include overnight accommodations, sports courts, a swimming pool and dining outlets.
Address: Batu 4 ½ Jalan Pantai, Port Dickson, 71050 Si Rusa, Negeri Sembilan
6. Johor Yacht and Recreation Club
There are a number of different sports and yacht clubs in the Malaysian state of Johor Bahru, but the Johor Yacht and Recreation Club has arguably the best boating facilities. For ordinary membership starting from MYR 3,000 a year, members will have access to 40 berths able to accommodate yachts up to 45 metres LOA. Situated right next to the Johor causeway, berthing your boat at this club will get you as close as possible to Singaporean waters without actually having to cross the border.
Address: Jalan Tanjung Puteri 1, R&F Tanjung Puteri 80300, Johor Bahru
Sandakan Yacht Club
When the Sandakan Yacht Club in Borneo was first opened in 1952, there were just 45 members. That number has grown to over 500 today, with membership for locals. Members today also enjoy reciprocal membership with associations across Asia and Oceania. Aside from the boat park for storing members’ vessels, facilities encompass swimming pools, games rooms, a squash court and a restaurant and bar.
Address: Jalan Buli Sim-Sim, 90705 Sandakan, Sabah
8. Tawau Yacht Club Borneo
Yachties based on the east coast of Borneo can look to Tawau Yacht Club as a place to store their vessels and participate in sports both on land and in the water. The yacht club is one of the older ones on the island, first opened in 1962. It offers members marine facilities as well as a restaurant, swimming pool, sports courts and gym. Membership fees start from MYR 12,000.
Address: Jalan Tanjung Batu, 91008 Tawau, Sabah
9. Piasau Boat Club Borneo
Located in northern Sarawak along the coastline of Miri town, Piasau Boat Club is a Bornean hub for not only sailing and powerboating but also a range of water activities from rowing and canoeing to fishing and windsurfing. The club also has extensive land-based facilities including sports courts, a gym and even a skateboarding park. Members of the Piasau Boat Club will be able to not only enjoy a busy calendar of social events but will also receive reciprocal memberships with numerous other yachting and sports clubs in Malaysia as well as selected institutes in Brunei, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, The Philippines and Australia.
Address: Lot 1273, Piasau Nature Reserve Park, 98000 Miri, Sarawak
(Main image: Admiral Marina & Leisure Club; Featured image: Johor Yacht and Recreation Club; All other images: Respective yacht clubs)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What happens in a yacht club?
A yacht club is a an organisation designed for people with an interest in yachting. They are often located near the water and equipped with marina facilities that members can use to permanently dock their vessels. Many yacht clubs offer sailing lessons, host competitive races or regattas between members as also organise social events throughout the year.
– What are some best yacht clubs in Malaysia?
The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club is one of the best yacht clubs in Malaysia, followed closely by the Royal Selangor and Sandakan Yacht Clubs.
– Who owns a billion dollar yacht?
There haven’t been any superyachts valued at costing one billion dollars, however some of the largest yachts in the world such as Azzam, Eclipse and Dilbar are estimated to have cost more than USD 600 million to build.
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
By Olivia Michel
