After decades of friends and fun on the water, Powell River Yacht Club (PRYC) is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year with both new and reinstated programs, as well as a look back on the club’s long history.
Registered as an organization in 1967, PRYC started with a group of families who built 12 sabots in the mid-1960s. These two-and-a-half-metre sailing dinghies were used to race on Cranberry Lake, “and it just sprang from there,” said Max Ferrier, who was commodore of the club until a recent car accident.
Due to many previous members moving away or passing on, the club is unsure of its early history, but Ferrier explained that even without a story, anyone can see how the club has progressed. Though PRYC has humble beginnings, “it’s just grown from there,” he said.
Nowadays, the club offers a variety of activities for every interested boater, including races, cruises, sailing programs and social activities. “The basic idea is to get people in boats, on the water and having fun,” explained Ferrier.
The main function of the club is social. Activities such as pub nights and cruises to destinations like Squirrel Cove and Desolation Sound are offered regularly. Many of these events involve educational components, teaching participants new skills to improve their sailing.
Also aiming to educate is the program component of the club. In 2008, BC Sailing Association’s Mobile Optimist Sailing School (MOSS) implemented a youth sailing program in Powell River complete with six Optimist dinghies, two-metre sailboats perfect for learning basic sailing skills.
“It aimed to support clubs who didn’t really have the ability to go out and buy a bunch of small boats,” explained current commodore Dan Dyble. The program gave PRYC enough time to fundraise, enabling it to buy three Optimist dinghies, as well as various other small sailboats.
This year, PRYC offered both junior sailing instructional classes aimed at ages six to 14 and a junior sailing program which provides opportunities for youth who already know the basics to sail both recreationally and competitively.
“Junior sailing class is a bit like driver’s ed,” said Dyble, “whereas the sailing program is saying, ‘Let’s improve our driving.’”
Youth in the competitive stream race at the regional level, competing in regattas such as the Pumpkin Bowl, taking place soon in West Vancouver. The club has also started offering dinghy training for adults who want to learn to sail, as well as dinghy rentals for members with an endorsement from the club.
Another way PRYC has worked to bring new members into the club is through the re-introduction of a keelboat racing series, which was put on hiatus due to harbour renovations. Race season lasts from September to June and includes gems like the annual Algerine Race from Comox to Powell River.
PRYC has also made a move to incorporate powerboaters into its cruising and social activities. A name change from Powell River Sailing Club to PRYC in 2010 encouraged powerboaters to take part in some fun on the water. This spring will bring powerboaters a complete roster of events.
“As our membership grows, we are building toward our 50th anniversary, when we will have an even stronger youth sailing training program, a full race team including a masters level and a full powerboat program,” explained Dyble. PRYC, he said, wants to improve the programs “that already add so much to our boating community.”
One stereotype holding some back from getting involved, explained Ferrier, is that boating is expensive. To the contrary, he said, boats are a great investment. His sailboat, which he has owned for 10 years, was about the same price as a 10-year golf membership. “It’s cheaper than minor hockey and it’s a whole family thing,” said Ferrier. “I raced with my kids every other Saturday...and [we] went on holiday on it every year.”
Owning a boat, he continued, opens new doors, making places such as Vivian Island and Desolation Sound easily accessible. “People travel from all over the US to go cruise in Desolation Sound,” said Ferrier. “You can’t forget, around the world Desolation Sound is advertised as pristine wilderness. You get to see bears on the shore and all sorts of wildlife like seals and whales in the ocean.” Ferrier himself has had an orca come right up beside his boat.
“Freeing is the biggest word I’d use to describe it,” said Dyble. PRYC, he continued, welcomes anybody who wants to learn more about sailing, boat owner or not. Anyone interested in becoming involved can visit the club’s website or contact a member of the club, who will be more than willing to help.
