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Cruising Section

The KBBC is fortunate to have a 38 foot cruising yacht, the ‘Star of Siam’, available to its members. She has been owned by the Club since 1985 and is well looked after. The boat is equipped to a high standard (EPIRB, GPS, VHF, life raft, etc).

Brunei is a wonderful place to either learn to sail or build up some sea miles. The weather is excellent with a sea breeze most afternoons during the quieter southerly monsoon. Sailing conditions get more interesting during the northern monsoon with stronger regional winds.

The boat is currently either based at Kuala Belait or Serasa, where we have a mooring at the Royal Brunei Yacht Club. Trips from KB tend to be shorter afternoon sails, although the opening of a marina at Miri will give us a weekend destination. Regular weekend trips are organized from Serasa to Pulau Kuraman, where many a BBQ has been enjoyed on the beach, and to Labuan, home of fine seafood and karaoke.

Trips are also organized to Pulau Tiga and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah and in the past the Star has sailed as far afield as the Philippines and Hong Kong. Despite being ‘built for comfort’ rather than speed, the Star has also performed well in local regattas, notably the Borneo Cup in 2005.

How do I sail on the Star?

Contact the Cruising Section and ask to have your name put on the email list. You will be notified of any planned trips. Alternatively, arrange a group of people (6 or less) and organize your own Skipper and Crew.

Can I sail the boat myself?

We are always glad to welcome prospective Skippers to the Section. The current base qualification for skippering the Star is Australian Yachting Federation Inshore Skipper or RYA Day Skipper. The Skipper must also be able to satisfy the Cruising Section and Commodore that he/she is competent to command the boat. The best way to achieve this is to spend some time sailing to the Star’s usual haunts with existing Skippers. A Skipper is also expected to hold a Senior First Aid Certificate.

I haven’t sailed on a yacht before, how do I learn?

Australian Yachting Federation Competent Crew and Inshore Skipper theory sessions are held at the KBBC when there are the numbers to justify a course (normally 4 or more). The practicals are held either on the Star or an instructor’s boat, normally at Serasa.

How much does it cost?

The fee for the use of the Star is currently $50 per person per day. This is considerably less than the cost for a similar commercial charter vessel.