PORT ELGIN YACHT CLUB CELEBRATES ITS 60^TH ANNIVERSARY

The Port Elgin Yacht Club is celebrating its 60^th anniversary this year and we will be marking this occasion with various activities during the summer. Included in the festivities will be our annual “Commodore’s Sailpast” on June 17 followed by a dinner dance for past and present members and invited guests.

Initially, the Port Elgin Sail and Canoe Incorporated was started in 1946 by seven local boaters. In the 1980’s, the club name changed to the Port Elgin Power and Sail Incorporated and operated as the Port Elgin Yacht Club. At that time, the harbour was quite different than what you see now. Due to a very low water level and silting, the north end of the harbour was not useful. These seven likeminded boaters felt a need for an organized group to assist one another, promote boating in the harbour and to improve the docking infrastructure. In the beginning, and every spring for many years, pilings were driven down or added in the south east corner of the harbour.

Early in the 1970’s, there was a considerable increase in the number of people joining the Club and major improvements were needed to the docking facilities and the harbour itself. Westerly and north-westerly winds churned up the harbour. There were no proper break walls to absorb or deflect large waves. The municipality of Port Elgin, which operates the harbour, and our members contacted the Federal Government and asked for assistance to improve the harbour and it’s facilities. The Government did a complete study of the harbour, including a scale model which resulted in dredging to enlarge the harbour, and improvements to the entrance were made to reduce the wave action within the habour..

Once the north end had been dredged to a depth of 8 feet, additional docks were added by the members on the north-west break wall and floating docks installed by the Government in the north section which increased dock space to over 200 slips. A proper launch ramp and well were added. Hydro and water services were paid for and installed by the members. A common misconception that evolved from all of these improvements was that the Port Elgin Yacht Club was on the north side of the harbour and the Port Elgin Harbour was on the south side. Although many of our members are on the north side, we lay no claim to any part of the harbour.

The Muncipality of Saugeen Shores has full responsibility for all maintenance and improvements to the docks within the harbour and these improvements continue each and every year. At this time, there are close to 300 slips available to transient and seasonal boaters. But the involvement of the Port Elgin Yacht Club continues. Working closely with local fishing clubs, we were instrumental in funding and building the new washroom/shower facilities at the north end parking lot.

Membership in the Port Elgin Yacht Club continues to grow each year and this year we have over 80 members which includes non-boaters, power boaters and sail boat owners alike. Our activities are not limited to the boating season. During the winter doldrums we hold several social functions. The boating months include an organized lift-in and lift-out, pot-luck dinners and a club racing program. Many of our members group together to explore the North Channel or go for a weekend anchorage in the Fishing Islands.

Our members felt a need to promote boating to people who did not have the facilities to experience the fun of being on a boat. We successfully entered into a program with the Ontario Sailing Association to teach young and old alike the sport of sailing. The OSA provides the boats and instructors and is meant for everyone -- kids and adults are all welcome to participate. This year’s school will be held from July 10^th to 14^th.

The Port Elgin Harbour has been promoted as the “Harbour of Hospitality”. From it’s simple beginnings it has turned into an active facility for visitors and residents alike during the boating season and has become a great tourist attraction for summer visitors.

The same basic objectives set out by our forefathers still prevail today.