The Martha Cove Yacht Squadron is an inclusive association, open for membership from both the powerboat and sailing community. We aim to provide interesting events, training, and courses both on and off water for all our members and encourage people of all ages and abilities to join our friendly community. Should you have any queries at all about which type of membership is right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us on membership@mcys.com.au or secretary@mcys.com.au , or Telephone: 0491 627 864 for further information.
APPLY for MCYS Membership Online
You can apply for membership by filling out an online application form at JOIN NOW Online . When filling out the online application form, you need to select the membership category you wish, but you do not have to pay anything when registering. You will be invoiced separately after your membership application has been processed and approved by the General Committee. Be sure to fill out a separate application form for each family member applicable.
MCYS is an affiliate club of Australian Sailing, so registering for membership at MCYS is also registering with Australian Sailing. This gives you an Australian Sailing member number which facilitates you participating in other affiliated clubs if you choose to.
MCYS Membership Categories
The MCYS membership categories are as follows:
Family Membership – includes one Senior Member and one Affiliate (Spouse or Partner) Member, plus an unlimited number of junior dependants, or full-time students, under the age of 18 years. This membership package includes two voting rights, belonging to the Senior Member and their Spouse/Partner Affiliate.
- SENIOR FAMILY Member – the primary family member is invoiced one fee which covers all family members, includes voting rights
- AFFILIATE FAMILY Member – the spouse/partner, not invoiced directly. Includes voting rights
- JUNIOR FAMILY Member – for under 18’s family members, no voting rights
Senior Member – any person over 18 years of age. This membership type enjoys full rights and privileges including voting rights.
Intermediate Member – any person aged between 18-30 who is currently undertaking an apprenticeship or course of study, and proposed to be active sailing or power boat crew. This membership type enjoys full rights and privileges including voting rights.
Affiliate Member – comprises four categories: “Social Member”, “Crew Member”, “Dual Member” or “Spouse or Partner” Member. An affiliate member has no voting rights, so it’s better to choose a FAMLY membership for husband/wife than separate individual memberships.
- Crew Member – 18 years old or older and active sailing or power boat crew;
- Social Member – a Member who is 18 years old or older, who is proposed to be a social member and not an active sailing or power boat crew.
- Dual Member – a Member who is 18 years old or older, who has membership with another club or squadron and is the equivalent of a senior member of that club provided that it is affiliated with Australian Sailing.
- Spouse or Partner Member – a person over the age of 18 years who is the Spouse [as defined in the Marriage Act 1961 CTH)] or Domestic Partner [as defined in the Relationships Act 2008 (Vic)] of a Senior Member who together comprise the adult Members in a Family Membership.
SailPass Temporary Membership – a temporary one day membership offered at no charge for non-members to be guests or crew aboard a members boat during a club sponsored on-water event – sail race, nav rally, or day cruise. You can get up to 6 day SailPasses each season.
Out of Port Membership – a full membership at a reduced rate for members who keep their boat at a distant port outside of Port Phillip or Western Port.
HONORARY Membership – a full membership at no charge to people who have and continue to contribute in other ways to the club.
MCYS Membership Fee Schedule 2024/25
We’d like to thank you for your ongoing commitment and support of the Martha Cove Yacht Squadron – through what has been a challenging couple of years. As you know we’re a relatively young club, having launched in 2019 with the purpose to: “connect, inspire and foster community in the Martha Cove area through our shared love of boating”. We’ve been somewhat hampered in fully realising our purpose by covid lockdowns and the ongoing challenges as we emerge from this time – but we’re committed to continuing to work with our members to fulfill our purpose and we have a lot of exciting plans ahead to do just that!
With membership fees due in July 2024, the committee has agreed to keep our fees low for 2024/25 plus offer a 25% early bird discount for prompt renewal payment within 30 days of being invoiced. This is in part to thank you for your continued support during these challenging times, and also in recognition of the increasing cost of living.
SENIOR – Anyone over 18 years of age (Full voting right) $297
INTERMEDIATE – Students and apprentices < 30 years of age (Full voting right) $250
FAMILY – Senior and Partner, unlimited children under 18 (One full voting right) $535
AFFILIATE – Social Partner, Crew or Dual members $238
OUT OF PORT – residing outside the Port Phillip and Westernport Bay areas $ 120
JUNIOR – Under the age of 18 years $ 108
If you feel you’d like to contribute the full amount you can do so by contributing to our MCYS Foundation Fund for our future. You can contact our Treasurer, Pam Hall, for more details at treasurer@mcys.com.au
We also wanted to remind you that our Foundation Members also get 10% off merchandise and membership renewals above, as long as you keep your membership current – so you might want to think about ordering some new gear in preparation for the upcoming season https://merchandise.mcys.com.
Member Benefits –
Personal Accident Insurance
As a MCYS member you are also entitled to Personal Accident Insurance for any club run events. This is through Australian Sailing and provides cover for loss of income, lump sum and other benefits. Your crew or guests who are not members are also covered in MCYS events as long as they have temporary membership through the SAILPASS which can be found here: https://www.revolutionise.com.
Monthly Member Get togethers
We meet monthly for club nights – drinks and dinner. We also have speakers on a wide range of topics – from cruising to electrics, from seafaring experiences to tall stories, from entertaining to informative!
The “Walkers”
We have completed the Bay Trail from Safety Beach to Point Nepean! Next we tackle the coast trails eastwards to London Bridge, Gunnamatta, Fingals Beach, Cape Schanck, Flinders and more. Monthly walks are a great way to see our sensational Mornington Peninsula and enjoy a brunch, coffee, BBQ and catch up with other members.
Regular Destination Cruises
We run cruises “in company” to great destinations around the bay and beyond to places such as QCYC at Queenscliff, Wyndham Harbour, Geelong, Docklands, RMYS Marina, Blairgowrie, Refuge Cove and the SE Coast, ‘Round the Bay Cruise… for experienced and those trying cruising for the fist time, “in company” events are the best way to learn or hone your skills. Members helping members is what it is about!
Education, training and up-skilling
There is always something to learn about or to do with boating – a new skill, a better way to do something, or just to to practice. We have in our membership years of boating experience which many are pleased to share. Our new focus on Lady Skippers means that you can learn new skills in a fun and safe way from docking (getting in, and out safely) to passage planning, from piloting to parking (mooring in all circumstances) and other useful boating skills!
We have in the past run Radio Courses to obtain VHF and HF qualifications, learned all about Tides of Port Phillip and Westernport, and unknown destinations in Port Phillip. More great topics to come…
We will be running GPS 101 (learn how to maximise your use of GPS), Weather Basics, all about Wind and Tides, and when you get somewhere how to Anchor efficiently, and tie up safely using a barge-boards and fenders.
Iconic Clubs and Pubs of the Mornington Peninsula
About half a dozen times each year we visit the iconic clubs and pubs in our part of the world for a meal and visit.
Sponsor Discounts
Many of our sponsors offer discounts to Club members. Show you membership card and support our sponsors!
Membership renewal and cards
You will receive your membership card in the mail within the next few weeks, if you haven’t already collected it at a member night recently.
Renewals will also be sent in the next few weeks.
When you renew your membership, you will receive a currency sticker for the back of the card to show that you are a member for 2024/2025 season.4inPort Phillip