Our club was founded in 1959. Over the years we have hosted international regattas and innumerable local competitions. We have seen our members distinguish themselves as racers and cruisers throughout the world as well as experts in the art of relaxation at our beautiful facility on Blueberry Island. Whether your ambitions are to tackle the national championships or occupy a lawn chair, our club has plenty to offer.
We are both a racing and a cruising club. Races are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings as well as Sunday afternoons. Lasers and Y-flyers are the two main competitive fleets, but all boats are welcome. Lake Ramsey also offers excellent cruising opportunities with varying winds and weather and many pleasant anchorages. Racers and cruisers alike enjoy our many social activities, especially our famous pot-luck dinners, which occur regularly throughout the season. We are a family-oriented facility and welcome members of all ages and all levels of expertise.
Our membership is open to anyone with an interest in sailing. Many members do not have boats but sign up as crew to fill available slots during races. Others with plans to acquire a boat take advantage of our co-op fleet or the expertise of fellow members to help them in their decision. Our Sailing School is an excellent option for anyone wanting to enhance their skills; group and private lessons are available for adults and children. Moorings, on water or land, are assigned by the Harbourmaster. Tie downs are required on boats in the dry-moored area. We do not permit motorboats or canoes at the club. Boats with a displacement in excess of 4800 lbs. cannot be moored at the club. If you have questions about the suitability of your vessel, please contact the Harbourmaster.
The City of Greater Sudbury leases us the land on which the Club is situated. The members own the infrastructure, the buildings and the club boats. We maintain and upgrade the facility through our membership fees and operate on a not-for-profit basis.
During their first year new members pay the regular membership levy. In the second year, in addition to this regular fee, new members are asked to make a one time share purchase of $250. Upon leaving the Club, members may request that this share be made available for redemption. The share is redeemed when a subsequent new member purchases it.
…Guests
You are encouraged to invite guests to join you for sailing or social events. If your guest enjoys the club, please urge him or her to join. The following excerpt from the Club Rules describes the guest policy:
Guests must always be accompanied by a member. In the interests of preserving the club's well being and resources, members are encouraged to urge their frequent guests to join. Members who abuse club resources by inviting too many guests too frequently may be censured at the discretion of the Board. A person's unwillingness to abide by the Board's recommendations about reasonable conduct may jeopardize the approval of his or her membership application in the following year.
Skippers in club races are allowed a guest to crew for a maximum of five times in a season.
…Pitching in
We like to keep our costs down, our grounds looking good, and our equipment working well. To do this we ask all members to volunteer to help with our work parties and various other projects. It's also a great way to meet new friends.
Please keep the grounds tidy. If you use the kitchen facilities or barbecues, please clean them after you have finished. If you enjoy gardening, by all means plant some flowers or water any thirsty plants. Our members have spent thousands of hours turning a rocky island into an oasis of lawns, flowers, and shady retreats. Help us to maintain the property as Sudbury's best recreational asset.
Our lease specifies that pets are not permitted anywhere on the grounds.
…Safety
Safety is an important priority at the Sudbury Yacht Club. The swimming area and wading pool are unsupervised, and it is the responsibility of parents to watch their children. The wading pool is cleaned each Wednesday and is normally unavailable for most of that day.
Children are not permitted on any dock or boardwalk without a life jacket. The water in Lake Ramsey is very cold, and it is extremely difficult - if not impossible - to climb out of the water on to a dock. The water from the washroom and kitchen faucets is drawn directly from the lake and is not potable. Drinking water is always provided inside the club house.
No yacht club, with its parking lots, proximity to water, tripping hazards and extensive terrain, is a safe place for unsupervised play. Please impress this on your children.
The club maintains a start boat and a fleet of rescue boats to assist during lessons and competitions. Please note, however, that we do not operate a rescue service. Vessels must be fully equipped with the appropriate safety gear, and skippers should not over-reach themselves by setting sail in conditions which exceed their capabilities. All members are urged to develop an awareness of other sailors and their whereabouts. If you are sailing off alone, it would be wise to brief someone on your destination and ETA. Please bear in mind that uninsured vessels are not permitted on Club property.
Children under the age of 16 who are using the sauna must be accompanied by an adult. The sauna is electric, and no water or wet towels can be permitted to contact it. The sauna is turned off and locked by the steward at the end of his or her shift and is off limits to all members after this time.
Please leave your car in the parking lot. Vehicles are not permitted in the dry sail area or anywhere else below the parking lot unless drivers are delivering goods to the clubhouse. If you are making a delivery, drive with extreme caution.
…Cold water precautions
The Ontario Sailing Association cautions small boat sailors that the waters of Ontario are extremely cold both in the spring and fall. Many boating fatalities result from hypothermia. Every sailor should take the following precautions when heading out in cold water:
…Enjoyment
There are many reasons why the Sudbury Yacht Club is an outstanding organization. Most importantly, the membership is comprised of enthusiastic sailors who love competing, socializing, and "messing around in boats."
This is, of course, a shared facility, and in order to enjoy it to the full we must cooperate respectfully. Please note the following excerpt from the Club Rules:
Appropriate Conduct: Any person who uses the club, member or guest alike, is expected to behave in a manner appropriate to a peaceful, family facility. Playing loud music, creating a disturbance, or acting in a manner hazardous to oneself or others is not permitted. Members are reminded that they are responsible for the conduct of their guests at all times.