By Darci Friesen
Most people think “boating” when referencing a yacht club; a marina with row upon row of boats, people making the walk from vessel to land – sporting all varieties of life preservers and clothing specifically tailored to the modern sailor. While, at a first glance this does seem to confirm these opinions, in the case of the Kelowna Yacht Club (KYC) – a non-profit organization - there are many chapters under it's proverbial cover. Dedicating themselves not only to the responsibilities that surround the business of running the Yacht Club and it's components, the Club prides itself on their involvement within the community. With an emphasis on educating and fund raising (to name a few), their main philosophies and values encompass: helping people to learn and grow, contributing to the community and taking responsibility as a good neighbour and citizen.
Helping People Learn and Grow:
*The need for water safety begins at an early age, so the KYC works with local elementary and secondary schools to provide safe boating and water safety instruction – with an average of 1,000 students every year.
*Thousands of children and young adults have learned to sail via open-to-the-public outdoor lessons. Priced to be as inclusive as possible, many of these young people have gone on to successfully compete throughout the province.
*In the learn-to-sail courses, with completion rate of about 60 adults each year, the classroom training segues into practical, lessons on the water. Members donate their time and boats to enable this 'hands-on' portion of the class.
Contributing to the Community:
*The KYC Blind Fishing Derby is put on by the club members annually, providing approximately 30 people with sight impairment or blindness the unique opportunity to not only spend time on the water, but to fish! Great prizes, trophies and meals for this derby come without charge.
*In conjunction with the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club and Variety, the KYC sponsored Boat for Hope event gives kids who are faced with physical disabilities and developmental challenges a day of pirates and booty (on both land and water) – alongside of their families.
*The KYC has maintained and inspected 37 public mooring buoys in the area between the bride and Caesar's Landing.
*The Yacht Club provides access and moorage for the fire, rescue and patrol boats of the RCMP, the City of Kelowna Fire Department, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Department of Fisheries – free of charge.
*For the many recognized professional boating courses offered by the Kelowna Canadian Power and Sail Squadron to the public, KYC provides the facilities needed.
*KYC holds an annual fund raising regatta to help raise money for the special crafts maintained by The Disabled Sailing Association.
*The KYC Boat and Leisure Show is a free community event that involves 300 KYC volunteers. All profits from exhibitor entry fees are returned to the community through the provision and on-going maintenance of the the public mooring buoys.
A Good Citizen and Responsible Neighbour:
*As a non-profit organization, membership in the Kelowna Yacht Club is open to the public, and costs are kept at a minimum.
*While some Club activities are restricted to members only, non-members are gladly welcomed to many of the courses, events and other activities.
*KYC, in partnership with the City of Kelowna, provides a public pump-out station, so all boaters can pump their effluent into the sewage treatment system, instead of the lake.
*Each spring KYC and CPSS members clean debris, garbage and flotsam from the lakeshore and water between City Park and the Water Street boat launch.