What is a beach club on board a yacht?

For decades the main point of passengers’ contact with the sea was the bathing platform aft

Shipyards competed in making it wider, longer, equipping it with a hydraulic drive to be able to lower it into the water. But it did not solve the main problem: the “island” of beach life on board remained rather small.

The concept that brought people really close to the water and enabled them to stay there for long and spend time in different ways with a group of friends was the beach club, which appeared a few years ago and required some serious revision of the old approach to yacht architecture.  

At first, the beach club was a privilege of large superyachts only, where a large fold-out transom turned into a bathing platform. The area on the platform and around it was big enough to fit in sun loungers, a bar, a spa or a lounge area, a gym, etc. So, in fact the beach club “moved” into the hull, adding various interior spaces. The development of extra fold-down terraces allowed one not only to increase the area of the platform, but to open up the parts of the beach club that were inside the hull. 

There are different ways people deal with garages for tenders and water toys that are usually located aft and occupy the area of modern beach clubs. They are either moved forward on some yachts, or masked as beach clubs on others. Sometimes they are not masked: the garage can be finished with teak beautifully, so it turns into a beach club at anchor, when the tender and toys are launched into the water. Moreover, sometimes the beach club gives access not only to sea water, but to fresh water, too: both outdoor and indoor pools are located here. But that is a prerogative of large superyachts. 

Nowadays beach clubs are so popular that they have become a must-have for any modern yacht that wants to be a success. Even midsize production models sometimes feature a beach club these days. Yes, it is a lot more compact than on board a superyacht, but it is a convenient, versatile space, where one can swim, sunbathe, take a shower, have a barbecue, throw parties, watch a film… And all of it at any time of the day and right by the water.