Yacht Club Donau
Yacht Club Donau is a long-established boat and watersports club at the harbour in St. Andrä-Wördern on the Danube in the Greifenstein power-plant reservoir. Members use a private sports marina with jetties, crane, wet and dry berths, winter storage and a clubhouse open from April to November, now run as a club lounge serving drinks. The programme includes sailing, waterskiing and wakeboarding upstream of the dam, club tennis courts, and services such as shore power and water at the berth plus free parking. Club life features the annual season opening with a church service, harbour and club festivals and shared Danube trips; the club is also a member of the waterski and wakeboard association. Founded in 1956 as Motorbootclub Greifenstein and since 1979 as Yacht Club Donau also oriented towards sailing and surfing, the club has long been part of the regional watersports scene.
History
By decree of 12 February 1956 the Motorbootclub Greifenstein was officially approved. As early as 1957 interest in preparatory courses for the skipper's examination rose sharply; the club joined the newly founded Austrian motorboat sports federation and built its own landing stage in Greifenstein. In 1958 the club had 45 ordinary, 19 associate and 7 junior members; a plot was leased in Altenberg and a clubhouse inaugurated on 24 May, while members competed in international motorboat races. In 1959 the name changed to Motor Yacht Club Donau, the first club sports harbour opened and a full-time club steward was employed for the first time. In the early 1960s harbour users grew to 64; flooding required dredging in 1962. In 1965 the tenth anniversary was celebrated with a DDSG steamer trip to Dürnstein for about 300 participants. In 1968 the club donated a St Nicholas statue for a chapel in Greifenstein parish church; the annual season opening with a festive service continues that tradition. In 1979 the name became Yacht Club Donau and activities expanded to sailing and surfing; membership then stood at 117 ordinary and 43 associate members with 79 boats. From 1980 to 1983 relocating the harbour and grounds because of the Greifenstein power-plant construction dominated club work. In 1984 an agreement with the Danube power companies provided a new harbour basin and the shell of a new clubhouse; the Motor-Zillen-Club-Donau joined as a collective member, and by year-end the club had 202 members with 151 boats. On 5 May 1985 the new clubhouse and flood-safe harbour were inaugurated; a waterski slalom course, better sailing and surfing conditions and a club tennis court followed. In 1996 and 1997 the jetties were extended. In 2001 co-founder and honorary president Anton Schmitt died. During the 2002 century flood the Greifenstein reservoir level fell sharply and boats in the harbour ran dry. In 2003 club steward Karl Ehrenstrasser retired after more than 40 years and was later elected president; Christian Rieß succeeded him as steward. In 2006 the vessel Websi II sank in the basin under snow load; on 22 July 2006 Yacht Club Donau celebrated its 50th anniversary. In 2007 limited new memberships were again possible after a longer admissions freeze. Today the club operates the harbour in St. Andrä-Wördern with a renewed access system, crane service and a club lounge run by the harbour master.
Information
Facilities
Sports marina with jetties inside and outside the spur, own crane, wet and dry berths, winter storage, trailer storage, fresh water and 230V shore power at the berth, drinking-water filling point, clubhouse/club lounge, tennis courts, free parking, supervised club grounds
Activities
Sailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding and surfing in the Greifenstein power-plant reservoir; annual season opening, harbour and club festivals, Danube trips; tennis; participation in boat shows such as BOOT TULLN
Parking
Yes, free parking
Guest berths
Yes, wet berths available