Windsor Yacht Club

Last updated
Windsor Yacht Club
Windsor Yacht Club Burgee.png
Founded1937
Location Windsor, Ontario
Website www.windsoryachtclub.com

The Windsor Yacht Club (WYC) is a private yacht club in Windsor, Ontario. It is located on the Canadian mainland just south of Peche Island overlooking the Detroit River. The clubhouse overlooks the southern shore of Peche Island and is at the north-end of the Detroit River, which takes water from Lake St. Clair.

Contents

WYC is a member of the Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association (DRYA) [1] and the Inter-Lake Yachting Association (I-LYA). [2]

History

In 1936 a group of boat owners who occupied the marina that would soon become the Windsor Yacht Club decided to form an organization of boaters. [3] A modest clubhouse was built where the present clubhouse stands. Over the winter of 1936 and 1937 meetings were held which led to the formation of the yacht club in 1937. [3] The first major expansion occurred after World War II when in 1945 the Clubhouse was expanded for the addition of kitchen and dining facilities. The Club grew substantially in the 1960s with both more wells being constructed and the clubhouse being expanded and improved upon. In the 1980s, the yacht club would have been sunk if not for the valiant efforts of the Yard and Docks Chairman Captain Gord Ritchie. Many times during harsh winters with northeastern winds bashing waves over the break wall the yacht club was submerged in icy cold water. Capt. Gord gathered volunteers to operate the pumps in order to keep the Yacht Club afloat. Every time the Detroit River water levels rose, volunteers were ready to fill and place sandbags surrounding the Yacht Cub. Capt. Gord never asked for recognition only respect and gratitude for his volunteers. You might remember Capt. Gord cruising downriver broadcasting over the radio waves as the voice of the Labatt's Blue Marine Cruiser give his audience weather and marine reports. Auxiliary Coast Guard, Tender boat for the Evergreen during its Canada Cup Race. Offshore Race patrol during the Detroit River Offshore races. Wednesday providing support, being the start boat for WYC sailing races and towing stranded sail boats off the rocks. You might have had a drink at “Shanty Town” and found him relaxing on the Silverton. Thank you Capt. Gord for welcoming us aboard. [3] The clubhouse would later be reconstructed in 2001, as it stands today. The Windsor Yacht Club celebrated its 75th anniversary in the year 2012. [4]

The Windsor Yacht Club still holds many of its traditions including: [3]

Gentlemen do not wear hats in the Club House. When or if this occurs, the bartender rings a bell and the "offender" is obliged to treat those in attendance on the occasion. Exception to this rule may be made on medical or religious grounds.

The parking spot on the east side of the parking lot closest to the Club House door is reserved for the Commodore.

Behind the bar, there are four vertical lights denoting the various flag officers of the club. The lights are illuminated when any of the above are in attendance at the club. Similarly if any of the above are in the dining room, a small flag is placed on their table signifying their flag positions.

There are several official functions held throughout the year at the club:

Directors

The Windsor Yacht Club has numerable directors who are in charge of the function of the club: [3]

Marina

Windsor Yacht Club has two harbours, one east of the clubhouse and one to the west. The Windsor Yacht Club has 62 slips (allowing vessels up to 60 feet in length). WYC extends its facilities (dining room, bar, swimming pool, harbour amenities) to members of reciprocal clubs, including members of (DRYA) and (I-LYA) affiliated clubs. [3]

Racing

Windsor Yacht Club is active in the sport of yacht racing and is a member of the Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association (DRYA) along with 26 other clubs in the region. Windsor Yacht Club hosts races in Lake St. Clair. The club hosts a Spring series and a Fall series consisting of 7 races each. One-design classes that race include the J/120 and C&C 35, open classes include PHRF A, PHRF B, and JAM. WYC also hosts other races notable in the area, including the Chimo Race and the Canadian Club Regatta. [3]

Related Research Articles

Yacht racing Sport involving sailing yachts and larger sailboats

Yacht racing is a sailing sport involving sailing yachts and larger sailboats, as distinguished from dinghy racing, which involves open boats. It is composed of multiple yachts, in direct competition, racing around a course marked by buoys or other fixed navigational devices or racing longer distances across open water from point-to-point. It can involve a series of races when buoy racing or multiple legs when point-to-point racing.

Yacht club Sports club specifically related to yachting

A yacht club is a sports club specifically related to yachting.

Toledo Yacht Club United States historic place

The Toledo Yacht Club is a private yacht club in Bay View Park, in Toledo, Ohio, located on the Maumee River, at the western end of Lake Erie.

New York Yacht Club United States historic place

The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. As of 2001, the organization was reported to have about 3,000 members. Membership in the club is by invitation only. Its officers include a commodore, vice-commodore, rear-commodore, secretary and treasurer.

Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race

The Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race (MHOR) is a biennial sailing race which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005. It runs between Marblehead, Massachusetts and Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is believed to be the longest running offshore ocean race in the world and is considered one of the pre-eminent ocean races of the North Atlantic.

Detroit Boat Club

The Detroit Boat Club was established in 1839, as a sport rowing club. It was first created on the Detroit River during a time in which Detroit was just starting to grow. The Detroit Boat Club is a member of the Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association (DRYA).

San Diego Yacht Club

San Diego Yacht Club is a yacht club located in San Diego Bay. It is located in Point Loma across from a spit of land known as Shelter Island.

Southern Yacht Club

The Southern Yacht Club is located in New Orleans, Louisiana's West End neighborhood, on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. Established on July 21, 1849, it is the fifth oldest yacht club in the United States and a founding member of the Gulf Yachting Association.

Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race

The Bayview Mackinac Boat Race is run by the Bayview Yacht Club of Detroit, Michigan. It is one of the longest fresh-water races in the world with over two hundred boats entering the race each year.

Nepean Sailing Club

The Nepean Sailing Club (NSC) is a sailing club located on Lac Deschênes in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The club is based in Dick Bell Park, along Carling Avenue, adjacent to Andrew Haydon Park in the former city of Nepean.

Bayview Yacht Club Yacht club in Detroit, Michigan

Bayview Yacht Club is private, sailing-focused yacht club located in Detroit, Michigan. Bayview is famous for hosting the Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race as well as a number of other regional and local regattas.

The Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association (DRYA) was established in 1912 as the Detroit River Yachting Association by the Commodores of the Detroit Boat Club and the Detroit Yacht Club, Commodore Harry Austin and Commodore Harry Kendall, respectively.

Detroit Yacht Club United States historic place

The Detroit Yacht Club (DYC) is a private yacht club in Detroit, Michigan, located on its own island off of Belle Isle in the Detroit River between the MacArthur Bridge and the DTE generating plant. The DYC clubhouse is a restored 1920s Mediterranean-style villa that is the largest yacht club clubhouse in the United States.

Biloxi Yacht Club

The Biloxi Yacht Club (BYC) is located in Biloxi, Mississippi, USA, on the shores of the Mississippi Sound. The BYC is a founding member of the Gulf Yachting Association, as well as the Mississippi Coast Yachting Association. Established in 1849, it is the fourth oldest yacht club in the United States.

Erie Yacht Club

Established in 1895, the Erie Yacht Club, is a private club located on the shore of Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the Erie Yacht Club is to maintain, develop, and enlarge the facilities for yachting and boating, to encourage and develop yachting and other aquatic sports, to promote social recreational activities. To improve yachting and boating facilities at the Erie Yacht Club basin and in the area of the Erie Harbor generally.

Wawasee Yacht Club

The Wawasee Yacht Club was formed in 1935 and is located at 6338 E Trusdell Ave. on the northeast shore of Lake Wawasee, Indiana. It currently has 75 families and 35 social members sailing 28-foot E-Scow, 19-foot Lightning, and 13-foot Sunfish class boats in three regattas held from June through early October.

Britannia Yacht Club Private social, yacht and tennis club in Britannia, Ontario, Canada

The Britannia Yacht Club (BYC) is a private social club, yacht club and tennis club based in Britannia, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1887 by a group of cottagers.

Santa Cruz Yacht Club

The Santa Cruz Yacht Club (SCYC) is a yacht club founded in 1928 and is the oldest, and currently the only, yacht club in Santa Cruz, California.

Bosham Sailing Club

Bosham Sailing Club is the oldest sailing club in Chichester Harbour and was founded in 1907 It is located in the historic village of Bosham in West Sussex. Its clubhouse is the Old Mill on Bosham Quay.

Handicap forms for sailing vessels in sailing races have varied throughout history, and they also vary by country, and by sailing organisation. Sailing handicap standards exist internationally, nationally, and within individual sailing clubs.

References

  1. "drya.org" . Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  2. "i-lya.org" . Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Windsor Yacht Club - Official Site" . Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  4. "Windsor Star - WYC 75th Anniversary" . Retrieved August 26, 2012.

Coordinates: 42°20′29″N82°56′02″W / 42.3415°N 82.9338°W / 42.3415; -82.9338