Club Membership

There are many perks to being a DBCYA member and nearly two thousand yacht enthusiasts and Darwin locals take advantage of the practical and affordable facilities and services the club offers.

Advantages include:

Bar/Kitchen (all members): cheaper drinks, happy hour (4-6pm Mon – Fri and 5-6pm Sat & Sun),takeaway facility till 10pm, access to seaside dining and free live music 3x per week, plus free entry to the Mega Annual Viking Funeral and other special events.
DIY Facilities (Full members only): Access to the pontoon, careening poles, hard stand sites, waste disposal, mail delivery and workshop plus laundry and showers.
Sailing (full and Sailing Crew members only): participation in club’s racing events, membership to Australian Sailing including free personal accident cover whilst conducting club organised yacht activities (T&Cs apply)

Guests may visit three times per year before being required to join as a member.

Club membership year is from 1 July to 30 June. All memberships are due for renewal by 01 July each year to remain financial.  Members must renew by 15 August each year to retain their membership and avoid having to reapply.

Membership Types
Full Membership
– eligible to all persons 18 years or over who can satisfy the Management Committee they are yacht owners or are actively involved in the development of sailing in the NT.  Full membership provides members access to all Club facilities and gives the member the right to hold office and to vote.
Sailing Crew Membership – eligible to all persons 18 years or over who can satisfy the Management Committee they are bona-fide sailing crew in any of DBCYA’s organised racing or cruising events.  Sailing Crew membership provides members access to Club facilities such as the pontoon and showers but does not give the holder the right to hold office or to vote.
Social Membership – eligible to all persons 18 years or over who wish to use the bar and kitchen facilities and enjoy the club’s entertainment calendar.

Membership Fees 2023-24 financial year:
Full Membership (access to all facilities)
: $40 joining fee (once only) and $120 annual membership.
Full family/partner Membership: 2 x $40 joining fee (once only) and $180 annual membership per couple. (Kids under 18 free)
Sailing Crew Membership: $40 annual membership
Social Membership: $30 annual membership
Visiting Membership: Honorary membership is available to visiting yachtspersons for a period of up to 28 days – free if a current member of another yacht club (outside of Darwin), otherwise a one-off $20 amenities fee per person is applicable.

A 50% membership discount applies for members over the age of 60 years (Full member join fee and visiting yachtsperson amenities fee excepted).

01 Jan – 31 March: Half price pro-rata membership rates apply .
01 April – 30 June: Bonus membership months – eg join in April 2024 and enjoy membership till 30 June 2025.

All applications for Membership are subject to approval by the Management Committee. Any monies paid on initial application will be reimbursed if the Applicant is not approved by the Committee.

Application forms are available at the bar.  As per the NT Associations Act, all members must have a proposer and a seconder sign their application form – speak to the friendly bar staff for guidance if unsure about this process.

 Members’ Guests

Members may sign in up to six guests on any one day. Visitors are the responsibility of the Member whilst on the club premises.

Conduct & Behaviour

DBCYA has a great reputation as a friendly yachting community and relaxed local watering hole and a good standard of behaviour is expected from all persons whilst on premise. All members and their bona-fide guests are required to abide by the club rules and the DBCYA Code of Conduct policy. Violence, bullying and harassment are not tolerated within the club premises.

The Association operates the bar facility in strict accordance with the legislative requirements of the Liquor Act. The Club staff have both the authority and responsibility to act within the requirements of the liquor license.

Specifically staff are not permitted to serve persons deemed to be intoxicated, who are quarrelsome, unruly or conducting themselves in a disorderly and/or disruptive manner.

Persons who are directed by staff to leave the premises must do so immediately.