Marianas Yacht Club
The Marianas Yacht Club is located on the U.S. Pacific island Territory of Guam, Northern Marianas Islands. Located approximately 3,300 miles West of Hawaii, 1,500 miles East of the Philippines and 1,550 miles South of Japan, Guam offers a mid-Pacific yacht haven for cruising yachts transiting the Northern Pacific. Historically, Guam’s strategic location has made it a primary replenishing location for mariners from the Spanish treasure galleons in the 18th Century to the U.S. Navy after Guam was ceded to the United States in 1898. The fact that Guam is the Western-most United States port of call in the Pacific and there are no comparable alternatives within thousands of miles, make Guam an ideal stop-over port-of-call for transiting yachts still today.
Welcoming Visiting Yachts from Around the World
The Marianas Yacht Club welcomes visiting sailors and yachtsmen from around the World. MYC offers temporary reciprocal membership privileges for up to two weeks to members in good-standing of recognized clubs. The Yacht Club offers moorings, tender parking, showers, a canteen, mail holding and other services for visiting crews. For members and longer term visitors, the club sponsors races and regattas. For more information, CLICK HERE to visit the Marianas Yacht Club Official Web Site
Mid-Pacific Yacht Haven
As a U.S. Territory situated almost midway between Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines, Guam is a mid-Pacific yacht haven providing shelter from Pacific storms as well as offering resources for needed rest and recreation for crews and replenishment of rations and supplies. As a US territory, Guam offers visiting yacht crews access to American shopping, hotels and restaurants, postal and medical facilities. Guam is governed by US laws and courts, has a stable Government and there is a U.S. Coast Guard Station making Guam a safe location for a stop over. As a US Territory, the official language on Guam is English. However, Guam is a cosmopolitan island which has benefited from immigration over the years from the Philippines, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Australia and Europe. Help in other languages can be found.
Shopping. Although selections are a bit limited and prices can be a bit higher than mainland USA due to shipping costs, Guam is a true patch of American soil with American stores, restaurants, post office, legal system, banks, groceries and shopping centers. There are a number of large American style grocery stores such as Pay Less, American Grocery and Cost-You-Less, as well as a number of Asian groceries, where rations can be restocked at reasonable prices. There is also a Kmart, Home Depot and a number of other hardware stores where tools, supplies and clothes are available.
Rest and Recreation. For crew rest, there are a number of major 5-star American and Asian hotels, to include the Hilton, Sheridan, Hyatt, Okura and Nikko, to name a few. Guam has many of the U.S. National franchise restaurants such as McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Applebee’s, Ruby Tuesday and Red Lobster. There are many fine 5-star hotel restaurants and many other American, local Chamorro, Thai, Korean, Chinese and various other venue quality restaurants.
Marine Parts and Supplies. Although Guam serves well as a mid-Pacific yacht haven for storm shelter, rest and replenishment of supplies, unique marine supplies and repair parts are limited. There is currently one “West Marine-like” marine supplies store, Coral Reef Marine, which stocks a fairly good variety of routine marine supplies such as line, lights, fiberglass, epoxy, outboard parts, etc. Cabras Marine supplies the tuna fleet and has a larger selection of heavier line, chain and related supplies. However, there are no dealers or distributors for common marine inboard power plants such as Yanmar, Westerbake, Cummings, etc., on the island. Dealer certified maintenance is not available and parts must be ordered from off-island. Expedited shipping is available via the US Post Office, FEDEX, UPS and a number of other freight forwarders. Support for such engines is also limited. If you can’t handle repairs yourself, check with folks at the Yacht Club. They can usually put you in touch of someone who can help.
Transportation. For any length of stay, a rental car is a must. Guam is a small island, about 10 miles wide by 30 miles long, but everything is spread out and public transportation is almost non-existent. Taxis are far too expensive. A taxi from the yacht club to anywhere is at least $40 to $50 one way. Most major US rental car companies are represented and a new compact can be rented for $220 to $250 a week. Check with folks at the Yacht Club for a ride to the airport or one of the rental agencies.
Military Support Facilities. For cruising sailors who are military, reservist or retirees, there is a major U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and soon to be, a U.S. Marine Corps base on the island. Each base has a large exchange store, commissary, recreational and medical facilities. Military space-available flights are available at Anderson AFB at the Northern end of the island. There is a fully equipped and staffed U.S. Navy Hospital on island.
Guam has a higher ratio of military service members to overall population than any of the 50 US States. Guam is very military-friendly. Guam has 2 active Veteran of Foreign War (VFW) and one American Legion post that welcome visiting veterans.
Mid-Pacific Yacht Haven
The US Island Territory of Guam offers a mid-Pacific yacht haven for yachts transiting the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. Located on the Philippine Sea on the Western side of the island at Latitude 13° 30′ North, Longitude 144° 40′ East, Apra Harbor is one of a very few protected harbors within thousands of miles. Apra Harbor offers shelter from the many typhoons that are prevalent in this part of the Western Pacific Ocean. Guam offers opportunities for crew rest and recreation, replenishment and provisioning of supplies and the opportunity to conduct US legal business before proceeding West. MYC is located within Apra Harbor.
Entry Requirements for Visiting Yachts
Visiting yachts must clear Guam customs and immigration at Apra Harbor. All yachts are advised to contact PORT CONTROL on VHF Channel 13 for instructions, BEFORE entering the harbor. All non-U.S. citizens entering Guam by yacht MUST HAVE A U.S. VISA. Visiting yachts are usually directed to proceed to the Marianas Yacht Club and crews are usually permitted to go ashore to await clearance. Apra Harbor is shared by the Guam commercial port and the U.S. Navy. Yachts are advised not to enter the harbor or disembark until without permission.
Guam Typhoon Information
Guam is located in an area of the Pacific often referred to as “Typhoon Alley”. Typhoon “season’ is usually thought the summer months, June through August, however that cannot be relied upon. Some of the most destructive typhoons in the last 15 years occurred in December. Shelter afforded by Apra Harbor and a protected harbor of refuge located within the main harbor, make Guam a key mid-pacific yacht haven that cruising sailors should highlight on their charts. Visiting yachts are cautioned to stay aware of weather conditions. The latest typhoon information, including warning track charts, closest points of approach and anticipated wind speeds, updated every 6 hours, is available from the U.S. Navy “Joint Typhoon Warning Center”.