PLANS to turn Bahrain Yacht Club into an upscale marina could leave less wealthy small boat owners with nowhere else to go, sailors have warned.

Established in 1962 as a mixed-use civilian and military member’s club, Bahrain Yacht Club in Sitra offers affordable berths for small boats – one of the last remaining facilities to do so, following the closure of the Marina Club in Manama for redevelopment earlier this year.

However, the club’s lease ran out in February and ongoing renewal negotiations with Edamah, the investment arm of Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat, have thrown its future into doubt.

“We’re now negotiating with Edamah, who is effectively our landlord,” club treasurer Ralph Stokle told the GDN.

“We have a year’s extension to allow us to negotiate but after that things are uncertain.

“We want an extended lease for the next five to 20 years, but Edamah have come up with a proposal to redevelop the land and provide an upscale marina.”

Mr Stokle described the redevelopment idea as “unrealistic” and in conflict with the club’s ethos, which is “essentially an association for non-paying members”.

“To develop the area and ask for us to run it is unrealistic,” he said.

“Having it be upscale would kill it because although you have Al Bander Resort next door, the area is surrounded by industrial and workers’ accommodation.

“The actual beach area is also not that brilliant.

“This is more for lower-paid people who can afford to have smaller boats and sail boats.”

Membership fees, at BD350 a year for a family, were “about half the price” of other marinas, Mr Stokle said.

“Those would be raised to at least double that if the development is done, and it would move expats and lower-paid Bahrainis out,” he said.

“We also do training for schools and we’d probably lose that as well.

“Families will be torn apart if this goes forward – it’s probably the only place where families can go to a beach with these facilities at a reasonable price.”

Bahrain Yacht Club is believed to be the oldest club of its kind in the country – even the now-closed Marina Club was not established until 1981.

“At the moment we’ve got something like 450 members on the books and probably about 300 boats,” said Mr Stokle. “People have started pulling together, we’ve got a new committee being formed and we want to support that committee to be able to negotiate a new lease rather than a redevelopment.”

Rent at the club currently costs BD45,000 a year, he said, which was paid through membership fees, mooring fees and other events.

“It would destroy the tradition of this island to get rid of the yacht club,” said Mr Stokle.

“They’re already developing the Marina Club and you’ve got Amwaj and Durrat. Those are some beautiful sites for marinas.

“To be honest, how can we build yet another expensive marina which no one would be able to afford?

“Let people who can afford this manage it themselves and allow the sailing to continue.”

Edamah could not be reached for comment.

laala@gdn.com.bh