Sailing...In Shanghai?

The Shanghai Yacht Club and its new Marlin Bay restaurant, brought to you by the same people who run New York Steak & Burger and New York Pizza at Tianzifang, are situated south of the Bund between Nanpu Bridge and the Cool Docks. The restaurant offers plenty of seafood as might be expected both in terms of its a la carte weekday menu and its weekend buffet brunches and dinners. The food is well made and reasonably priced but the real draw for this place is its unique setting and styling. This waterfront restaurant will have you believing you’re in another city, another country entirely. I was reminded of the restaurants along the wharf in my hometown of Newcastle, Australia.

The restaurant seems like it would be good for families – there were a few young kids roaming about the patio when I was there and I think that on a fine day, when the boats were out and in their full glory, kids might enjoy watching them and other aspects of life on the Huangpu. It would also be a nice spot for events, both corporate, say a product launch, and personal, like a wedding reception.

As one of the owners, Preston Duane Kennedy, said “there’s just something about water – It’s so relaxing”. On a sunny afternoon, it would be nice to sit on the patio terrace with a glass of wine and watch the currents of the river.

Why just watch? Marlin Bay is in the process of putting together a brunch package that will include a well filled picnic basket and 1 or 2 hours out of the water on a yacht. Besides that they can also help you to rent a yacht for the afternoon from the adjoining Shanghai Yacht Club. If you're just interested in a sociable afternoon on the water, this is probably the best course of action. However, if you are serious about learning to how to sail a boat or honing skills you already have, check out the Shanghai Yacht Club website. They have a variety of courses suited to all levels of experience. And they’re not the only ones getting back out on the water…

You wouldn’t expect it but it is possible to go sailing and to learn how to sail in Shanghai. However, as you would expect, it is costly. Shanghai was no stranger to sailing regattas in the heyday of the foreign settlements in Shanghai. Up until war broke out in the 1930s, regattas were frequently held on the Huangpu by the Shanghai Yacht Club.

Besides Marlin Bay and the yacht club at Waimu Lu, there’s also the Jin Mao Dragon Yacht Club on the Pudong side of the river and the Shanghai Boat and Yacht Club (SBYC), who use the facilities at the Shanghai Country Club (formerly the Shanghai Yacht Club and Resort) at Dianshan Lake. Situated within Shanghai municipality – but only just - Dianshan Lake is about halfway between Shanghai city and Suzhou. If you want to visit the Shanghai Boat and Yacht Club, it can be reached by taking the Metro to the end of Line 2 at East Xujing Station and then catching the club bus (but you need to have reserved a seat before hand). Check the SBYC website under 'Location' in the pop down menu below 'About SBYC'.

If you join the club, you can take advantage of the vast stores of experience on offer from the club’s members. As an organisation which prides itself on being “from members, for members”, more experienced sailors are always happy to show new people the ropes. If it’s more formalised training that you’re after, SBYC have started offering training programmes for beginners. Andreas Wagner, the Vice Commodore of SBYC, commented “we actually just concluded an 8 weekend sailing training program based on the RYA training for about 30 beginning sailors, and we are planning to hold a similar session after the summer holidays.”

The club maintains a fleet of boats and members are welcome to use them. The club regularly calls upon its members to act as volunteers in terms of both maintaining the boats and conducting club activities. It’s very much a DIY sort of club with a strong sense of community spirit. They have open days, regular races, and other social activities which include some informal training days in particular aspects of sailing to improve the skills of new sailors and more experienced ones alike.

Shanghai Yacht Club – Santi Wharf, 1162 Waima Lu, Huangpu - +86 21 33761789
For a six week course of two courses a week, you will pay upwards of 20 000 RMB.

Shanghai Boat and Yacht Club – Western shore of Dianshan Lake, near Grand View Garden
- Annual membership should you back 2,950 RMB.
SBYC’s activities are held at the Shanghai Country Club (formerly the Shanghai Yacht Club and Resort) - 588 Jinshang Lu, Qingpu, +86 21 59262835.

Shanghai Jin Mao Dragon Yacht Club – 3510 Riverside Avenue, Pudong - +86 21 50479588, +86 21 63732078
There aren't any classes but you or your company can rent one of their boats.