Club History

Kempenfelt Bay Yacht Club got off to a rocky beginning in Barrie in that the marina where it is located was owned by the city. So, a lot if effort went into the start up trying to persuade the Public Works Department that it was a good idea that was beneficial to the city as well. A number of aldermen were supportive of the idea and the Club was established in 1981 at an inaugural meeting, very well attended, at the Blue Flame Room at Consumers' Gas. The Club had members from both sail and power boats to be more inclusive in the marina, which had a mixture of both. In fact, the KBYC burgee or flag flown from the starboard side of the mast was designed as a sail with a propeller inside with blue and white colours.


The first KBYC Executive was established in early 1981. The first President was Gary Rodgers who became a local businessman later. He was joined by an executive of Vice President Dave Blevins, Regatta Chairman Adrian Van Niekerk, Treasurer Don Bishop and Youth Director Garn Mennel.


The first KBYC Sailpast was held that year, a traditional way for yacht clubs to open the new season. All of the members boats would move in a circle on the bay to pass the committee boat or a shoreline review stand where the yacht club Commodore would salute the passing boats whose captain would return the salute. Sailboats are required to luff ( flap ) their foresail as they pass the committee boat. The Mayor was invited to join the committee review boat as well. Also, in this sailpast both Big Brothers and Big Sisters, along with their Little Brothers a Little Sisters, were invited to join the members on their boats for a couple of hours of sailing. Later, there was a barbeque in Kempenfelt Park with these groups. This tradition was carried on for many years, to the delight of many young children who may never have been on a boat.


A Racing Program was started, with various trophies available for the racing competitors. Sailboats would start a three-leg course over a line between two racing buoys and boats were often close to collision as racers tried to get the best start. Other racing included races with the Barrie Yacht Club who had many active racers over the years. KBYC built up a great reputation in more recent years as a strong competitors have their skipper and boat names on trophies.


Youth activities were part of KBYC's beginning with introductory sailing training offered to younger persons interested in learning to sail or race. These young trainees were given some basic sailing training and joined with boats that were racing, performing crew duties in races. On other cruises with members' boat, these youths would be given a chance to take over the tiller or wheel of the sailboats and learn to skipper the boat first hand.


KBYC was active in social activities from the beginning with many successful social events. A Lift In Party was always held in the spring of a new season, giving members a chance to make contact and talk about boating plans to accomplish in the summer while enjoying the camaraderie of the group

Lots of discussion occurred at this party with members plans for a Georgian Bay trip, an around the lake (Simcoe) cruise, a new sail or an instrument like a Global Positioning System, or any improvement to help the captain's accomplishments that summer. During the summer there were dock parties with music provided by a group called the Kids on the Docks. Charity racing for anyone who wanted to join in were held in the 90's and those registering for the event provided group sponsors from Barrie commerce or Industry; to join you were only required to have a basic understanding or racing.


The KBYC Around the Lake Cruise was a regularly planned event near the end of July when good weather was more certain. The Cruise Chairman would plan the itinerary of sailing each day for a week and which ports to dock in. Several clubs on the Bay offered reciprocal sailing rights allowing boats from other clubs to stay without charge, provided they knew when the club was coming to stay. The main social event of the boating season was the Commodore's Ball held locally. This was the event to present awards for racing, good Samaritan ( a club member who assisted or rescued other boaters on the lake) and other unique awards such as the Sandbagger award (a boater running aground or making other bad boating mistakes). Needless to say, members were often quite quiet about boating  mishaps but this last award made people aware that you had to be careful at all times when boating, in a humorous way. There was a dinnmer and music at this fun event, not to mention great prizes donated by local merchants who appreciated some business from club members.


In the 1980's , the Yacht Club took over the May Lift-In and Lift-Out in October of the storage of  boats beside the Marina for the winter. The Club hires the cranes to do the work, provides a crew to plan and do the physical work from among members, and charges the members a fee for their boats.


In the future KBYC would like to work with the city in plans for the Marina, in particular, in the development of a building near the Marina that could be used for occasional meetings of the Club as well as for other civic groups.



Written by Peter Pass 2005