A group of avid sailors holidaying Port Stephens in the late 60s moored at Fame Cove and, after a day of sailing and fishing, got together in the evenings where talk would turn to the need for a yacht club.

In 1972, that idea became a reality and the Soldiers Point Yacht Club was formed with 10 members.

Fast-forward 50 years and two name changes, the club is stronger than ever with 225 members of all ages and boasting a busy calendar of weekly social and competitive racing activities.

One of Port Stephens Yacht Club's most incredible achievements, believes its commodore Michael Kirby, is that it has operated for the past 50 years through the power of volunteers.

A "100 per cent volunteer organisation", everything from race officiating, social activities, maintaining the clubhouse at Soldiers Point Marina and the running of the bar is done by volunteers.

"This club was built by volunteers and survives through volunteers," Kirby said. "When visitors from other for profit clubs drop in they're amazed by what they find here."

After making the move from Sydney to Port Stephens where he spent nearly 14 years holidaying with his family, Kirby joined the yacht club in 2006 and has been commodore since 2020. Despite the challenges COVID presented to the club - periods of complete shutdowns, no social activities and even placing limitations on crew numbers on vessels - it has achieved much in the past two years.

The club has secured a fresh five year lease with Port Stephens Council to continue operating out of its clubhouse at the marina, plus a five year option; it has moved to the more widely used Top Yacht handicapping system which Kirby called a "game changer"; more women are participating in sailing and the club is throwing more resources into female sailing initiatives and; more social events are being staged.

"Port Stephens Yacht Club has been an integral part of the Port Stephens sailing and social community since its conception," Kirby said.

"Friday nights at PSYC was the 'go to' social event followed by well supported Saturday and Wednesday sailing competitions. The diverse type and size of yachts provided fun, competitive sailing followed by a quiet drink back at the clubhouse. Great times and camaraderie defined the last 10 years of PSYC.

"As with most sailing clubs the single biggest challenge going forward is the ageing membership. In today's fast paced digital society with all its offerings, sailing clubs need to compete to attract new sailing and social members. Since becoming the commodore of PSYC, myself and the board has focused on making improvements for current members, and to attract new members.

"With these new improvements and initiatives we're undertaking, in the next 10 years I would expect PSYC to have grown its membership with greater male-female diversity, has a woman as commodore and expanded its on-water racing and cruising that supports our mission of 'social and competitive sailing in a pristine environment'."

Tales of the club abound but possibly the most accurate is from founding and life member Gordon Burgess penned in 1992 - 20 years after the club was formally established.

His account of the formation of the Soldiers Point Yacht Club, as it was known between 1972 and 1987 before changing to the Port Stephens Yacht Squadron, has been included in a booklet created to mark the 50th anniversary. Burgess said that in the mid-60s Port Stephens was the holiday centre for Maitland and the Hunter Valley.

"There were yachts about and Fame Cove was a popular refuge. In 1964, three sailing vessels appeared at Soldiers Point at about the time time. Naari, an 18ft Jubilee, built and sailed by Max and Edna Berman; Defiance, a 54ft timber yacht built and sailed by Rob Edwards; and the 25ft Morning Light owned and sailed by Gordon Burgess," he wrote.

"It was during the evenings, after a pleasant day of sailing, fishing or just mucking about that talk would turn to the need for a yacht club. Just as enthusiasm started to mount, a public meeting was called by Frank Argaet to form the Amateur Sailing Club."

This club was formed in 1965 but folded within five years. More yachts began appearing in Port Stephens and in 1972, the first meeting of the Soldiers Point Yacht Club was held in the Berman's home in East Maitland. It was named as such as most of the boats were moored at Soldiers Point. Max Berman was elected the first commodore of the club. In addition to the Bermans and Burgess, Heinz and Emily Bremberger, Tony Ward, John Claydon, Hank and Rae Hayden were the first members of the club.

It was renamed Port Stephens Yacht Club in 2003.

The community is being invited to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the club on Saturday, March 19.

The clubhouse will open at 10.30am, at 11am there will be live music, a welcome and announcements at 12.30pm and a sail past with commentary from 1pm.

The day will feature food trucks, stalls and raffles - available from near the Soldiers Point boat ramp - plus nautical clothing, wine tasting, club merchandise and a history display.

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