Yacht Club Marl e.V.
Yacht Club Marl e.V. is a water sports club on the Wesel-Datteln Canal in Marl and has been a member of the German Motor Yacht Association since 1971. The clubhouse sits by the canal at kilometre 32.700 and offers a boat hall, slipway and workshop facilities for motor and sailing boat users. Regular courses and exams for inland and coastal pleasure craft licences as well as the inland VHF radio certificate UBI are held, complemented by a weekly Sunday coffee meetup, club evenings and joint trips. The club welcomes people of all ages from Marl and the Ruhr area, including those without their own boat, and has almost 70 members. Since its founding in 1971, community, mutual support and active club work have shaped club life.
History
On 27 November 1970, 25 boating enthusiasts met for the first exchange. On 17 January 1971, 17 participants founded Yacht Club Marl e.V. and elected the first board; the first president was Rolf Schemberg. In 1972 courses were held that had begun in the late 1970s. At the end of the 1970s planning started for a dedicated berth and club building. In 1980 plans for a clubhouse were complete; in 1987, after five years of construction, the first club evening took place. In 1997 a building application for a driveable ramp onto the Wesel-Datteln Canal embankment was submitted and approved; in 1998 construction was finished, and boats have since been able to be craned into and out of the canal. From 2001 to 2007 plans for a private harbour were pursued but not realised. In 2008 the lease with the City of Marl for a jetty had to be given up, while the club grounds were purchased from the city. In September 2010 renovation of the boat storage area was completed. From 2012 to 2016 the boat hall was extended and the clubhouse renovated; in 2016 further works included renewing the entrance gate. In 2019 construction of the terrace began. In 2020 club activities were heavily restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic; courses were temporarily held at Erlöserkirche. The 50th anniversary celebration planned for 2021 had to be postponed and took place on 19 August 2023 aboard the Riverlady on the Rhine.
Information
Facilities
Clubhouse on the Wesel-Datteln Canal, boat hall with extension, slipway, tools and workbench, terrace, club dinghy and training boat
Activities
Weekly coffee meetup, club evenings, barbecue evenings, Easter bonfire with spit-roast pig, work parties, crane-in and crane-out, joint trips and Whitsun meetings, pleasure craft licence and radio training
Youth section
Young people are welcome; a youth officer serves on the board
Boating license training
Available: 1
SBF Sea: 10 Tuesday theory sessions plus 4 practical hours; SBF Inland: 5 Tuesday theory sessions plus 4 practical hours