Our Story

 

Welcome aboard the MacGregor Yacht Club of British Columbia.

 

The MacGregor Yacht Club of BC is a boat owners association operating out of beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada, and is dedicated to enjoying everything that the MacGregor boating lifestyle has to offer. Whether you own an original MacGregor “Venture”,  “Classic”, “26X”,  “26M” or the new Tattoo 26 … everyone is welcome to share in the fun and excitement of being a MacGregor Yacht Club Member.
Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide range of sailing experience … but everyone has two things in common … the pride of owning a MacGregor or Tattoo sailboat, and a passion for having fun.
Our goal is to be the primary local resource for information and education for past and present Macgregor and Tattoo boat owners, as well as a meeting place where members can create new friendships and wonderful lifetime memories … both on and off the water.
Although our club operates out of the Greater Vancouver area, we have members from all over BC and other provinces in Canada, as well as members from the United States. The beautiful Vancouver Coast is home to some of the best sailing and cruising  grounds found anywhere in the world, so it’s no surprise that most of our sailing takes place in the protected waters of the Salish Sea among the Gulf and San Juan Islands. However, we also organize a few extended trips, to “stretch our sails”.

 

During the summer season, we host five official “Club Cruises” and three “Confidence Cruises” called MacSkills, MacSailing and the Fall MacFoulie.

The goals of the “Confidence Cruises” are to:

-Build skills in handling a MacGregor under power and under sail

-Build confidence when sailing in inclement weather (wet and/or cold).

– Experience being on deck and conducting deck-work during inclement conditions.

– Experience sailing in cumbersome foul weather gear.

– Practice reefing and balancing the center of effort of a Mac.

– Practice safety precautions such as: tether & jack-lines, heaving-to, swell handling, clothing comforts.

 

B.O.A.T 101 (Basic Operation And Techniques) is typically planned for April and is a chance for new owners/sailors to go out in one of our member’s boats for a day of sailing and instruction coached by a senior member. It occurs in the protected waters of Indian Arm and provides an introduction to the unique handling characteristics of the MacGregor boats including rigging, launching, slow speed maneuvering, sailing, and crew-over-board recovery.

 

Fall Open Water MacFoulie is typically planned for October and is a chance for members to sail for a day on a club member’s boat coached by one of our senior members to learn more about sailing a MacGregor/Tattoo boat in “foul weather” conditions in English Bay.

 

 

Club Cruises

Spring Regatta – Blaine Harbor Marina This event runs at the Blaine Harbor Marina on the Victoria Day long weekend in May.

Friday night is a meet and greet on the dock. Rigging and launching help is offered for those arriving on trailers and docking help for those arriving by water.

Saturday features a quick seminar on safe boating vessel requirements followed by a safety sail where boats and crew get to practice heaving to, crew-over-board recovery and emergency anchoring drills in a fun format. If you are not confident to try these maneuvers on your own you will be welcome to crew on another boat. Saturday night is a Pot Luck dinner at the marina.

Sunday is a chance to practice sailing your boat through a regatta course and challenge yourself to beat your best time. Sunday night is often another pot luck dinner, or a dinner at a restaurant in town.

 

MacRendezvous – Union Steamship Marina, Snug Cove, Bowen Island 1st Weekend in June

Friday begins with a 10 nautical mile sail from False Creek, Vancouver to a meet and greet on the dock followed by wine and cheese in the Marina Tower.

The Saturday morning Commodore’s Pancake Breakfast is followed by seminars covering local sailing topics followed by an afternoon sail and Pot Luck Dinner in the Tower.

 

Commodore’s Cruise – Location TBA Planned around the Canada Day Holiday July 1st

Each year the Commodore leads a cruise to different locations that highlight destinations in the Salish Sea (Georgia Strait) or San Juan Islands. Often these destinations are featuring celebrations of Canada Day and July the 4th as well as farmer’s markets, lamb roasts and other local events. Activities usually include pot luck dinners, day sails and exploration of the location. Flotillas are arranged to provide everyone with an opportunity to safely and enjoyably cruise to and from the destination.

 

Past Commodore’s Cruise – Location TBA August Long Weekend

Club flotillas will be organized to make sure everyone has a safe crossing of Georgia Strait and into the Gulf or San Juan Islands. Locations are chosen to experience new and interesting locations. Locations will also be coordinated with the Commodore’s Cruise to ensure that our northern (Vancouver Harbour) members and southern (Semiahmoo Bay) members have easy access to at least one of these cruises.

 

MYCBC Raft-Up – Sucia Island, San Juan Islands, Wa. Labour Day Weekend

We again organize flotillas for a safe and friendly trip for all to the northern most of the San Juan Islands. Club boats have the option of rafting together in the anchorage or anchoring by yourself for a little quieter experience. This is a great introduction to anchoring in an excellent location with lots of experienced members to help you. Once there, the options are endless. Explore the bay by dingy, roam the island’s many paths, and end the day with our pot-luck dinner on the beach.

We present “On-shore Info-Sessions” that take place during the “Club Cruises”. This is where members share their skills in such areas as: navigation and chart work, weather, knot tying, boat maintenance, tips for crossing the Georgia Straight, and many others.
Throughout the year …

Club Night Mactivities

Club nights are social evenings that typically occur on the second Friday of February, March, April, May and September. The Annual General meeting is in October and the Year End Dinner and Awards Night is in November.  There are no Club Nights in December and January (Christmas break) or June, July and August (summer sailing season). Club nights are Online ZOOM meetings to allow all our members to participate in meetings and the Educational Presentations

7:00-7:45 > “Loose-Ends” (business) planning of club activities

7:45-9:00 > Skipper’s Toolbox. (presentations by club members or guests Topics TBA)

9:00 – ??? > online social time to visit and discuss topics related to our boats

Club Night “Loose Ends” business Skippers Toolbox Presentation
February  Finalizing Details for Club Cruises TBA
March Final Planning for: Spring MacFoulie TBA
April Final Planning for: Regatta TBA
May Final Planning for: Rendezvous, Commodore’s & Past Commodore’s and Sucia TBA
September Final Planning for: Fall MacFoulie, Awards Dinner & AGM TBA
October AGM & Elections N/A
November Year End Awards Banquet N/A

 

Our Members offer “Members Cruises”, where members lead small groups to their favorite destination, or simply organize themselves for a day-sail in the bay.
So … whether you are just starting out in boating or are a seasoned sailor … the exciting MacGregor Yacht Club of British Columbia is the place for you. It is a place where great memories and friendships are just waiting to be made. For more information about the club see our “Why Join MYCBC Page HERE.  MYCBC membership ($35 per year + one time $30 registration) provides you with full access to all areas of the website and the ability to participate in all activities.
If you haven’t already, please watch our video entitled “Come Sail With Us”. Just click on the link below to watch it here.
“Come Sail With Us” (the dates of the events have changed but they are all still happening)
The MacGregor Yacht Club of British Columbia: “A Different Kind of Yacht Club”
– Come experience the fun.
– Come experience the adventure.
– Come experience the wonder and memories created when  sailing with old and new friends.
The MacGregor Yacht Club of British Columbia:
– Come Sail with us.

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