Soundings September 2025
Commodore’s Message
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Nicholas Miller, Commodore, Valinor.
New Members
Marin Elvin-Jensen, Active Member 0725. Adam and Tanis Hill, Active member 0726. Michael Menton and Madeleine Trenter, Active member 0727.
Simon Pulfrey and Katie Morgenstern, Active Member 0728. Ryan Turner and Elizabeth Durels, Active member 0729.
New Boats in the Club
Proudly displaying the coveted new boat mermaid fenders. Dock 4, Slip 1, John and Andrea Kelsall, Auklet .
Kids Summer Sailing Camp 2025 - That’s a Wrap
As the final boats are hauled out and the last lifejackets stowed away, it’s clear that the 2025 EHYC Sailing School was one to remember.
156 sailors hit the docks this summer, countless capsizes, more confidence, stronger skills and one unforgettable summer on the water.
What Sailing School Means to EHYC
Running a kids summer sailing camp is one of the most meaningful ways we connect with the wider community. Every Wet Feet giggle, every CANSail milestone, and every proud parent moment helps cement EHYC as a place where sailing is passed on, shared, and kept vibrant.
This programme is a big part of how EHYC maintains its community standing. By welcoming kids from the neighbourhood, building confidence, and passing on the love of sailing, we stay relevant and rooted and earn our place as a long-standing part of this waterfront neighbourhood - not just for today but for generations to come.
Numbers
With 156 total registrations (higher than last year - exceeding our expectations) — and a notable increase in the intermediate and advanced levels, signaling strong retention and progression through the CANSail pathway.
Leadership on the Water
This season was powered by an incredible team of coaches — a mix of returning leaders and new instructors: Sam, Chase, Justin, Max, Arel, Rahaa, Ross, Ethan and John, all of whom brought professionalism, patience, and energy to the programme.
And a big thank you to our volunteers and future instructors in training: Beibhinn, Sofia, Nicole, Robert, Declan, Henry, Frazier and Emilie.
From helping students conquer their first capsize to running races, our coaching team brought out the best in every student. A special thank you goes to Head Coach Sam Parr, whose 10th and possibly final summer with EHYC was nothing short of exceptional. Sam’s ability to juggle boats, kids, volunteers, parents, engines, and schedules — all while maintaining his signature calm and cheerful demeanor — is a masterclass in leadership.
Marketing
This year, we piloted a more strategic approach to marketing and registration. Here’s what we did differently:
• Attended the Gleneagles Spring Fair with a booth to promote the Sailing School
• Installed a new beach-facing banner with a QR code linking directly to registration and info
• Distributed new EHYC lawn signs that included QR codes, throughout the community
• Launched a new online registration system via our own website — no third-party platform!
• Ran a fun, visual Instagram countdown campaign leading up to registration, sharing photos of past student highlights
These efforts brought fresh eyes to our program and helped cement EHYC as the go-to summer sailing school in our community.
What Parents Are Saying
“This is the most organized camp we’ve ever been part of.”
“The boats were in great shape — better than what we've seen at other clubs.”
“Our child came home confident, happy, and asking to come back next year.”
The feedback has been consistent: EHYC’s programme stands out not just for the quality of instruction, but for its culture — one of positivity, mentorship, and camaraderie.
Supporting Roles That Made It All Happen
Ian deserves a huge thankyou for overseeing our coach boats and engine maintenance. His quiet efficiency, mechanical know-how, and calm troubleshooting behind the scenes ensured safety and reliability on the water.
And a special thankyou to Rosie, whose admin support was nothing short of excellent. From managing registrations and rosters to juggling logistics and communications, Rosie kept everything running behind the scenes — and with a smile.
The EHYC community rallying behind our coaches and staff: from design and copy for the website, towing boats and fixing engines, to snapping action shots and picking up supplies, volunteers showed up with tools, time, and team spirit. A huge shout-out to those who lent a hand: Gavin Froome, Ryan Leeson, Andrew Mollard, Bruce Winfield, Tyrone Stelzenmuller, Alexandra and John Mancini, Bruce Pollock, Nick Miller, and many more who stepped up.
We’d love to keep building on that energy. Whether you’ve got a knack for boat mechanics, a camera lens you like to use, or just enjoy helping where it’s needed — let us know!
Looking to the Future
With this year’s success, we’re looking ahead with excitement. Goals for next year include:
• Boosting CANSail 2 registration (a crucial stepping stone to advanced levels)
• Expanding our Opti programme with a more advanced level goal of single handed sailing.
• Growing our Junior Volunteer and Coach-in-Training programs
• Continuing to refine our registration and admin processes
• Offering returning coaches more leadership opportunities
The EHYC Sailing School continues to thrive thanks to the incredible people behind the scenes and on the water — and we’re so proud of how far we’ve come.
Thank you to our coaches, students, volunteers, and staff.
Here’s to another summer of Getting Salty — see you in 2026.
Will Goldsmith-Jones, Junior Co-ordinator, Ericsson 352 Zig Zag
Dock Dogs and Cats!
Administrative Updates: Parking, Trades
Guest Parking
Designated guest parking bays are clearly marked with white curbs and require a guest pass. If all bays are full, guests must find parking outside out of the parking lot.
No guest parking overnight, on long weekends or during Club special events.
Approved Trades
Vancouver Outboard
Commercial Marine
Protech Yacht
Pacific Yacht Systems
Canvasea
Evolution Sails
Evolutions Marine
Stem to Stern
Neptune Mobile Marine Services
Marine Yacht Services
SV Business Group Inc.
Oceaneye Marine & Diving Services
La Fabrica Home
Milltown Yacht Sales Hughes Marine Ltd.
Boat Canvas Mart/Tomtran
Pleasure craft marine services
We maintain a list of recommended authorized trades who have submitted copies of their $2M third-party liability insurance and WorkSafe certification. All other trades must be accompanied by the member whose responsibility is to verify WorksafeBC and Liability Insurance.
Lending your key fob to a tradesperson is not permitted.
If you know of a trade not on the list that you’d like to recommend please forward their contact details to the office for verification. This list grants authorized access only and does not constitute approval or endorsement of any listed trade.
EHYC Improvements: Projects and Upgrades
Onshore Improvements:
James Burdett, Vice Commodore Bavaria 36.
Offshore Projects:
Happy Fall Equinox, everyone!
As you may know, Rob Sloss has been working his way around the docks replacing deck boards and substructures as required.
Ian Brownlow continues to adjust dock chains to minimize movement and stress on the root dock and the fingers. Ian and I have been examining the next phase in waterline upgrades to accommodate standpipes for fire hydrants.
In the meantime, Nick Miller, Ian and myself visited Sewell's Marina to look at their floating causeway and now breakwater. Sewell's Breakwater was replaced after a catastrophic windstorm on February 9, 2019 sank their barge. A large section of the floating causeway that crossed the Hood Canal was bought by Sewells as a replacement.
I have been tasked, along with the BW Replacement Committee, to bring options for this project to our membership. As of today, we have an estimate of 1-3 years left of serviceable life in the existing BW.
I see this project as a Phase 1 and Phase 2:
Phase 1: BW replacement and within this the options are:
like for like (that is a newer barge with a similar footprint),
a different used structure and
finally, a new structure.
This would also include BW anchoring systems renewal as required and/or new anchoring systems like Seaflex. These options will be all vetted, including physical verification and engineers' sign off as required and by the BW Committee, budgets produced for the executive in November and then final presentation to the membership at the December AGM for discussion and approval. Of course, if there are questions that need further investigation before approval at the AGM, we would do that.
Phase 2: I have proposed to the Executive that once we have a renewed BW, a pinning of the Root Dock and dock fingers with steel pilings (creosote is not allowed anymore) be evaluated. With this, an upgrade of the root dock would also be evaluated. We were surprised to hear from Sewells that there are opportunities to get piling penetration in areas where they thought impossible in order to hold their docks in place. The savings here would be the annual replacement of chains and reduction of movement between the fingers.
See you around the club or on the docks..
Bruce Pollock, Rear Commodore Offshore Pursuit.
Landscaping Updates:
A huge thank you to the EHYC Garden Friends this summer. The gardens have done marvellously with intermittent weeding, and watering of the pots by dedicated members (you know who you are), and the benefit of the irrigation system.
We are grateful for the repair to the driveway garden bed and the Fraser Point trail. Our new plantings are getting more established and the invasive weeds are slowly retreating. Margaret’s Cistus roses are thriving- a true legacy of her many years of dedicated work. And we are enjoying the introduction of Rosanne, the purple perennial geranium that has happily bloomed all summer long in our driveway beds.
Three cheers for Jennie!!
She battled with a blackberry- and she won!
This past weekend we had a dozen people out for the Garden Work Party. We cleaned up the gardens in preparation for a long winter’s nap, and noticed many flowers still in bloom. We invite members to enjoy a stroll before the blooms vanish for another season. While visiting the club you are also welcome to take home some rosemary cuttings from outside the office- perhaps you have a special autumn roast or soup recipe to which you can add this, and enjoy.
We have added a beautiful new Dogwood tree to our driveway garden planter this autumn and we look forward to seeing it and our many rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers and daffodils bloom in the spring.
In the meantime, we will batten down the hatches and let Mother Nature tend the gardens for the winter. Anyone with an interest in garden planning for 2026 is most welcome to connect with me.
Nancy Brown, Landscape Committee Head, MatAshEron.
Dock Improvements
Be Ready: What to do in an Emergency at EHYC
Emergencies can happen quickly, and knowing what to do makes all the difference. This season, EHYC has taken steps to ensure members have clear guidance on how to respond if something goes wrong on the docks or in the harbour.
You’ll see emergency signage posted on the ramp gate and notice board. These signs list the essential phone numbers and procedures to follow in case of a fire, medical emergency, or fuel spill. Please take a moment next time you’re on site to read the sign so you’ll know exactly where to turn should an incident occur.
Real-Life Test of Our Response
Earlier last month, a member’s boat experienced a mechanical failure, resulting in a hydraulic oil spill within the harbour. Once the spill was reported, thanks to the quick response of our emergency response team, member volunteers, and staff - the Coast Guard were contacted and within 40 minutes of the callout, the boom was deployed and the spill was contained to prevent further contamination of the beach. Some residue stayed due to a combination of no wind and some oil being trapped in the dock floatation, but fully dispersed after a few days. The Coast Guard were in continuous communication and photos were shared, they determined that EHYC had done all that was possible to contain the spill, it was classified as unrecoverable and that the remaining oil would dissipate naturally over 1-2 days.
The incident provided a real-world test of our protocols. We’re proud to say that our response worked well, and with the added insight gained, we’ve further refined and strengthened our emergency procedures. This ensures that next time, our response will be even more efficient and effective.
For Oil or Fuel Spills: Stop. Call. Contain.
When it comes to fuel spills, time matters. We’ve adopted a simple, memorable phrase to guide you through those first critical steps:
Stop. Call. Contain.
• Stop the source of the leak — shut off engines or valves immediately.
• Call for help — alert the EHYC Emergency Contact at 672-833-3492 (Ian) or 604-921-7636 (option 1- office, or option 2- Ian).
• Contain what you can using the spill kits and booms located on site.
For Fire or Medical Emergencies: Call 911 First
If there is a fire, serious injury, or medical emergency:
• Call 911 immediately — this ensures the fastest possible emergency response.
• Then alert the EHYC Emergency Contact at 672-833-3492 (Ian) or 604-921-7636 (option 1- office, or option 2- Ian) so our team can assist responders with access to the property and direct them to the exact location.
• If it is safe to do so, help contain the situation until help arrives.
Why This Matters
Even small incidents can escalate quickly. Acting fast and following the right steps protects not only our docks and the environment, but also the safety and well-being of our members and neighbours.
Clear communication and quick action demonstrate to the Coast Guard, first responders, and our local community that EHYC takes safety and environmental stewardship seriously.
Next Steps
Familiarize yourself with the location of the Emergency Spill Kit equipment.
Review the Oil Spill Checklist which itemizes the protocols in detail.
Attend Safety Day and see our Emergency Response Team demonstration.
Add Ian’s cell phone as the Emergency Contact in your cell phone 672-833-3492
With clear signage, accessible equipment, and easy-to-remember steps, EHYC is ready to respond — and to protect both our members and our shared waterfront environment.
Alexandra Mancini, Executive Secretary, SeaRay Sun Dancer
Work Parties
Shoutout to Tom Bowen for revamping our EHYC Sign out front!
How to signup for a work party
Select the work party you’re interested in on the website or below, Click BOOK and turn up - it’s that easy.
EHYC Summer Socials
Supercruise, May 23rd-25th.
After an inauspicious start with a forced change of date this year, Super Cruise this year turned out to be wonderful fun. The number of boats booked into Pages made it look like it was going to be a disappointing turnout but this ultimately proved not to be the case. Tim Lepard had “Pegasus” moored just over the water at Thunderbird Yacht Club and Chris and Ingrid had “Knot On Call” over at Tugboat. Plus we had a lot of members attending without their boats which was lovely to see. Kent and Lori, Chester and Lynn, Geoff Vickery, John Roberts and Monica to mention but a few. To cut a long story short, a lot of members turned up to socialize on the docks.
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Great conditions for the sail over on the Friday, South Easterly at 15 Kts made for an easy sail. I was pleased to easily catch up and pass Tyrone on “Sail La Vie” until he pointed out that he had only his Jib up and was going slow to photograph the cub boats coming past.
For the potluck, Tim amused everyone by paddle-boarding over with his beef brisket safely wrapped in his PFD, the logic being presumably that he could swim but the brisket couldn’t? The beer barrel was kept cool by hanging it in the sea from the docks. The potluck was a magnificent spread.
The Commodore couldn’t make Supercruise so I stepped in to help out with the Commodore’s breakfast. With the help of Costco and Mike Cheever’s “Pescador” (and two of my good friends Scott and Tim) we managed to lay on cooked brekkie for everyone.
Sunday afternoon most folk departed and the sailors amongst us were blessed again with a 15kt South Easterly which made for a fantastic sail home, BC Ferries at Cowen point came close enough to hear Monica calling out encouragement.
James Burdett, Vice Commodore, Bavaria 36.
Dinner on the Terrace, Mediterranean inspired, May 29th.
Lobster Dinner, June 13th.
On June 19th Bev and I had the privilege of taking credit for organizing the 18th annual EHYC Lobster Boil. A couple of points here. First, we don't know how many of these events we have actually held. Somewhere along the line we lost count, and we have been guessing on how many ever since…
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Second, it is long past time where Bev and I can claim we organize the event. To be honest, there are many people who do their part in the run-up to the event. You know who you are, and our thanks go out to you.
This year was marked as unusual as Bev was called back to her hometown, Harbour Grace, to help tend to some medical conditions for her parents so we had to cope with the absence of her guidance. Fortunately, she left detailed instructions and checklists to ensure a smooth running. Crisis avoided!
Attendance this year was down a little from previous years, ninety-some-odd, as compared to the hundred-some-odd of previous years. But it was actually a relief to have the extra space and a little less demand on the preparation. Having said this, I think, as in past years, everybody had a really good time.
In the lead-up to the event we spoke to Tim Lepard and Ian Brownlow about some of the routine set-up issues. Things like making sure that there was enough propane on hand and making arrangements for the regular furniture to be put away so the tables and chairs can be rolled out. When I brought up the past practice of arranging for a crew of juniors for table clearing and dishwashing, I was informed that the club had a new approach. One person from each table would be assigned to clear the dishes and stack them onto a table in the back corridor. Ian would take the dishes from there and marshal them through the dishwashing process.
Needless to say, I was somewhat skeptical but was willing to put my trust in Tim and Ian and the process worked just fine. Ian managed with a bit of membership assistance.
Another momentous event was the attendance of Vice Commodore Heather Graham and her husband, Nigel Heath of Royal Victoria Yacht Club. Heather and Nigel were participating in the Round Bowen race the next day and we're encouraged to attend by the persuasive Beverly Dicks. They were quite involved in the preparation of salads and potatoes during the afternoon, and our thanks goes out to them.
They were quite impressed with our yacht club building and membership participation but did notice that there was no Royal Victoria Yacht Club burgee on display. Heather promised that she will use her influence to correct that in the near future.
On a personal note, I want to express how much I enjoy returning to EHYC every year to catch up with old friends and to meet new ones. Bev and I really appreciate the support and enthusiasm we get from the membership.
In closing, I want to remind everybody that without Bev in attendance to run herd on all the organization, the official line is that the event was a complete disaster! We promise to do better next year.
- Andrew Crane
Andrew Crane, Moonshadow III.
Orca Presentation & Pub Night, June 19th.
On June 19th we were fortunate to have Parks Canada Outreach Program come to our club to talk about whales in our area and also some new measures to protect these animals. Many members attended and were interested to learn about these mysterious, stoic and gracious creatures that inhabit our West Coast waters. It was an educational and enlightening evening, learning about how intimately our lives intersect with their habitat.
Tim Lepard, Social Director, Pegasus.
Dinner on the Terrace, South-East Asian Inspired, June 26th.
Southeast Asian Dinner on the Terrace was a great success featuring succulent and delicious southeast Asian culinary creations provided by club members. These dinners on the terrace are a new monthly event throughout the summer. They have proven popular with members. I was sorry to miss this event but sailing trips with the family are precious and not to be missed. No worries as this is an event that must be repeated in the future.
Tim Lepard, Social Director, Pegasus.
Bring and Grill Pub Night, July 3rd.
Annual Golf Tournament, July 5th.
Our annual golf competition was held once again at Squamish GCC and, again, the weather was kind to us. Competition was fierce with everyone having net scores in the 70s but, more importantly, all had fun and lies to tell about their games. The game was followed by 16 golfers and partners meeting back at the Cheevers’ for dessert and drinks, and more tales!
Mike Cheevers, Hydrographer, Pescador.
Pub Night - Van Isle Recap, July 17th.
On July 17th about 30 members came to hear John Roberts talk about his Van Isle 360 race that started on May 31, 2025 from Nanaimo. This is the 14th running of this race that circumnavigates Vancouver Island over 14 days. The race has a particular connection to Eagle Harbour Yacht Club as it is owned and run but Jeff Motley and his wife Sylvia. Jeff was Commodore of our club in 2008 before moving to Vancouver Island…
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John introduced his crew members and talked about some of the challenges of racing an older boat. He has spent many hours and considerable funds bringing the boat up to top performance. He also had to meet all the safety requirements mandated for the long distance race.
John went through what happened on the different legs of the race. The route is counterclockwise around the Island. His photos and videos showed the beauty and the challenges of this race. There were several highlights such as a spinnaker going rogue. But also wonderful moments when winds, or lack of, delayed them till late at night but arrived to a standing ovation from the other yachts and a race organizer standing by to provide a hot meal.
I found John's presentation to be quite inspiring. Not I might say enough to participate in 2 years, but to be involved in activities that create such interpersonal bonds and wonderful memories.
John received loud applause for his presentation but he also needs applause from all members of the club for representing our club on this race.
Thank you John.
Tim Lepard, Social Director, Pegasus.
Pizza Pub Night, July 5th.
In order to add to our regular weekly pub nights, we held a make your own pizza night. We had approximately over 30 people attended. We used the club pizza oven on the patio. This is a great oven but does require some knowledge as to how to get the best results. The club provided dough, pizza sauce and toppings of various kinds. The process of how to create the classic pizza shape was demonstrated. This started with some rolling out of the pizza but then switching to stretching the pizza. Toppings were then added according to the members preference. We favoured the use of parchment paper under the pizza in order to prevent sticking and burning. We were very fortunate to have Roel Coert assist and guide us through the correct procedure. I have to admit that I suspect Roel was somewhat frustrated by our less than perfect and certainly inefficient process. However he was satisfied that the end result was excellent and I think amazed at the patience of our members! We encourage you to come to the club and make your pizzas on this excellent oven.
Tim Lepard, Social Director, Pegasus.
Caribbean Dinner on the Terrace, July 31st.
The theme for the July Dinner on the Terrace was Caribbean. A bit of a challenge as it is likely not on our regular menus. But our members rose to the challenge and created an amazing 26 dishes all with a Caribbean theme. The photos don't do justice to the array of tastes from many different ingredients and spices. Sitting with friends on the patio on a sunny evening, sampling these dishes was like taking a quick trip to Barbados or Jamaica without the hassles.
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Congratulations to all the chefs. And a special thanks to Tom for creating another cocktail masterpiece a Goombay Smash. An excellent combination of rums and fruit juices.
For those that would like to try this at home, here is the recipe courtesy of Tom.
1 oz Dark Rum (used one from Bahamas)
1 oz Coconut Rum
1/2 oz Apricot Brandy
2 oz Pineapple Juice
2 oz Orange Juice
a good shake
A little bitters on top is a nice touch, didn’t do last night.
See you at the August Dinner on the Terrace. Theme is yet to be determined.
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1 oz Coconut Rum
1/2 oz Apricot Brandy
2 oz Pineapple Juice
2 oz Orange Juice
A good shake
Tim Lepard, Social Director, Pegasus.
Dock Party, August 7th.
Big thankyou to Ian, Brian and Peter for entertaining us at the Dock Party - you made the evening. And thankyou to members for having faith in the weather forecast!
Dinner on the Terrace, South America inspired, August 28th.
Bennett’s Brazillian brigadeiros were a huge hit! Thanks Bennett!
Salmon Derby and BBQ, September 6th.
Diana and I started the planning for the Salmon Derby 2 weeks prior; should we stick with last year's menu (Kale Salad and Roasted Veggies with Pasta Salad) and, what should we do if no one catches a fish? Salmon Burgers was the only other option to be consider…
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Two days prior, I decided that we would be catching fish on Saturday, September 6th based on our success at T10 on September 4th. That Thursday saw our boat land a 14 lb and 8 lb Chinook, and a bright hatchery Coho. I confidently declared to Tim Lepard, "No plan B of Salmon Burgers; all fresh fish".
Ian Brownlow (our super Club Super) reported 7 vessels and 32 registered fishers heading out that morning. Conditions were ideal; calm waters and a partial cloud cover that kept us warm enough in shorts and tee-shirts. It took us 20 minutes to get to T10 and we were fishing by 08:00.
It was a family day of fishing with my 3 adult kids with me; Cam, Scott and Rory. Scott landed the first and biggest fish (a 12 lb Chinook) that day, then we landed a double-header with Cam and Scott at the rods (10 and 8 lbs respectively). Rory landed a wild Coho that we released and then she hooked a 2nd salmon that was too feisty and spat the hooks at the boat. Fishing done by 13:30, we returned to Eagle Harbour to report and weigh our catch. We would be the first in.
Jamie McJannet volunteered his services to filet each fish with a $5 donation per fish to the sailing club, which was much appreciated. He is a master at this craft.
Our boat donated our 30 lbs of fish for dinner that night which assured us of enough salmon for the 35 guests that evening. We had a total of 7 salmon donated, of which 3 were cooked whole by Ian, all with excellent results. Good food does make an event successful and that we had.
It can't be a dinner without dessert. Ice cream bars were handed out to all that wanted, much to the pleasure of the children attending and simultaneously to the chagrin of their parents (the jet fuel before bed time problem).
The winners for the prizes that evening were:
Biggest Chinook: Ryan 16 lb
Biggest Coho: Tom Nosella 8 lb
Youngest Angler to land a fish: Scott Pollock (he's 30 - quite funny actually).
Big thanks to all the Salmon Slayers and guests who went out on the water that day; to Ian for his ever present contributions and support, to Rosie for her digital work in promoting this event, the bar crew for supplying libations and my wife, Diana, for the prep work for the shopping and meal prep for this event.
Tight lines and see you around the docks.
Bruce Pollock, Rear Commodore Offshore Pursuit.
Bruce Pollock, Rear Commodore, Offshore Pursuit.
Wildlife at EHYC
EHYC Instagram
