Royal Brunei Yacht Club Facilities

Created by doina. Last modified on 2005-09-08 10:17:44
Countries: Brunei

The Royal Brunei Yacht Club now provides free Wi-Fi connection at its Serasa (Muara Port area) clubhouse for members and visiting yachts. This is in addition to the free use of an automatic washing machine, showers, swimming pool, and small workshop facility.

Visiting yachts receive one month complimentary temporary membership at RBYC, after which they pay the normal Bn$70 per month temporary membership fee. Crews can buy meals, tender service and other items at RBYC by pre-purchasing coupons.

Despite spiralling oil prices, Brunei still has plenty of locally produced diesel available for the usual Bn$0.31 (approx US$0.20) cents per litre. For a small fee, the RBYC Boatyard Manager will assist visiting yachts to collect diesel (vehicle with trailer with drums) from the vehicle filling station about 5km from the club.

RBYC’s Kota Batu clubhouse – up the Brunei River – has a riverside balcony and indoor air-conditioned dining areas. The secure anchorage is just 50 metres off the club’s floating jetty. Free Wi-Fi is available here too, along with an automatic washing machine (donated by Brunei Bay Radio), showers, and big screen TV (for those rugby and cricket fans). The centre of Bandar Seri Begawan is only 10 minutes by regular local air-cond bus from this clubhouse.

The RBYC restaurants at Serasa and Kota Batu have an extensive Asian and European menu because of the ex-pat membership. Bring your wine, beer or spirits ashore for a great meal. Friday to Sunday the Serasa clubhouse is open for breakfast from 0900; bacon sandwiches are a big favourite.

International cruisers looking for some home style foods, will find that Brunei still has the most extensive range of vegetables, fruits, beef, pork, lamb, fresh milk etc on Borneo. Almost daily air flights from Australia are the key to produce being fresh. The large number of UK and Australian ex-pats working here means supermarkets have many hard-to-get favourites, such as Vegemite, ham, bacon and water cracker biscuits. According to visitors, Australian beef is cheaper in Brunei than in Australia. And Australian wine and beer is cheaper in nearby Labuan – 20nm across Brunei Bay – than in Australia.

So be sure to include a stop at Royal Brunei Yacht Club in your SE Asian cruising itinerary.

Allan Riches, Brunei Bay Radio

HF Radio voice and e-mail services for SE Asia, NW Pacific & Indian Ocean

PO Box 2234, BSB BS8674, Brunei Darussalam

Phn: 673 2 262676, Fax: 673 2 262675

http://www.bruneibay.net/bbradio