LITTLE CURRENT—Little Current Yacht Club (LCYC) may have found itself teetering on the edge of life support during the restrictions of the pandemic, but it has rebounded with a vengeance and members are looking forward to a full return of activities this boating season.
The Expositor sat down with newly-installed Commodore Bruce O’Hare, himself a charter member of the club, to discuss the upcoming year.
“We are really pleased to see the youth sailing program back up and running again this year,” said Mr. O’Hare, noting that the classes last season were fully subscribed.
“This year we are adding classes in Aundeck Omni Kaning,” he said. “We have classes in Gore Bay, Manitowaning, Wiikwemkoong and Little Current, so although we are the Little Current Yacht Club, we are really Island-wide.”
In fact, the youth sailing program has proven so popular and successful that it has now expanded to include Sault Ste. Marie. “We will be offering a one-week course in Sault Ste. Marie for the Algoma Sailing Club,” said Mr. O’Hare. “They called us up and said, ‘we don’t have a program, can we be part of yours?’”
The youth sailing program has been in play for more than 10 years, noted the commodore. “That’s eight weeks, with 12 students in a class for more than a decade, we have literally trained 1,000 students,” he said.
The program would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of LCYC members, noted Mr. O’Hare, singling out O.H. Rodgers for special mention. “He slugs the Picos (small training sailboats used in the program) around and loads them onto the trailer,” said Mr. O’Hare. “Then he takes them to Wiikwemkoong or Gore Bay, wherever the classes are taking place.” That’s a three-hour or more tour.”
“We are 100 percent volunteer driven,” said Mr. O’Hare. “We do it because it is the right thing to do. When you see the happy faces, that is more than enough reward.”
Doctors Bob and Carol Brock have donated a larger sailing vessel (Mayfair) that will allow students to “level up” their skills to handling larger boats.
LCYC is far more than the youth sailing program, however.
“‘WD 40 for the Mind’ grew out of member Roy Eaton’s popular ‘Cruisers’ Net’ broadcasts from the Anchor Inn,” said Mr. O’Hare. “He offers boaters in the area a variety of entertaining and informative lectures on subjects from favorite harbors to astronomy.” The dates and location of the lectures are announced on the broadcast. Attendance is a chance for cruisers to “get together while passing along a little knowledge” and the lectures are free.
Among this year’s ‘WD 40 for the Mind’ sessions held on Saturday mornings at the Anchor Inn in Little Current are talks on travelling the ‘Great Loop,’ first aid for boaters and chartering in the Caribbean—to name a few.
The LCYC racing program is also back, boasting four races that take sailors on a variety of courses, depending on the weather conditions of the day. The series attracts many participants who vie for a race flag and bragging rights at the dinner party that follows each race. The boat that has the best performance in three out of four races wins the coveted Manitoulin Island ‘Boat of the Year’ award.
The popular ‘Dingy Poker Run’ began in 2009 and has provided participates with “a wet and wild time.” The fun activity is aimed at promoting friendship amongst visitors and local boaters alike.
The 2024 LCYC board of directors include Commodore O’Hare, Vice Commodore Alistair Stephen, Past Commodore O.H. Rodgers, Treasurer Rod MacLeod, Secretary (vacant), Rear Commodore – Local Racing Rob Norris, Rear Commodore – Membership and Media Brian O’Neill, Rear Commodore – Cruisers’ Net Roy Eaton and Rear Commodore David Naples. The posts of secretary and rear commodore are currently vacant.
More information on the club and its programs can be found on its website, LCYC.ca and the CanSail program details can be found at Sailing.ca/cansail.
