The Battlefords Sailing Club have reached their golden anniversary.
The club is celebrating its 50th year of operation with events beginning this weekend. Despite being around for 50 years, according to harbour master Mark Barclay, some residents are surprised to learn there is a sailing club in the area.
Two socials will be held Saturday afternoon at the clubhouse on the shore of Jackfish Lake in Meota to introduce more people to the club and to sailing. In the afternoon, the Battlefords Sailing Club is hosting an open house. The public is welcome to drop by between 1 and 5 p.m. to have a meet and greet with sailors and members of the club. If the weather permits, there is also sailing planned for the afternoon.
In the evening, a beef on a bun supper will be held for people who purchased tickets.
BSC is also holding sailing lessons in July. "Regular" sailing lessons will be held for anyone 12 years old and up from July 21 to 25. For children 7 to 11 years old, youth sailing lessons are July 24 and 25.
The classes will be taught by certified Canadian Yachting Association instructors. Sailboats will be provided for the lessons.
The Battlefords Sailing Club had its first meeting March 8, 1964 at the Colonel Otter Armouries. In the minutes of the first meeting, the club stated their goal was "to encourage and promote sailing and sailing racing in the Battlefords area."
In 1965, the club purchased a beach property for $1,700 in Meota. Using member donations and government grants, the current clubhouse was built on that property in 1986. Members are currently looking to upgrade the near 30-year-old facility.
Barclay likes to believe the clubhouse is a "cabin, but you don't sleep there." It houses a full kitchen, deck with a barbecue and a meeting area inside.
He added members of the club receive a key to the facility and are able to use it at their leisure. The club also has four kayaks, some boats and two paddle boards that can be used by club members if they have the proper training. While they have boats, Barclay said most members have their own.
Regattas held by the club have been generally well attended. It was common to see the beach filled with boats with up to 70 registered. The club will continue that tradition with their annual regatta July 19-20. The regatta is part of the District 5 Laser Championship, also known as the Saskatchewan Laser Championships. The regatta is part of the Saskatchewan Sailing Association's 2014 District 5 Dick Degner Laser, Radial and Master scoring events.
In the early 1990s, the popularity of sailing dropped and forced the club into difficult times. Barclay attributes the drop to the surge in popularity of Sea-doos and larger boats, causing sailing to lose its "allure." However, he has noticed a return to sailing, crediting the aging baby boomers for breathing new life into the club.
The cost of membership for the club starts at $150 for singles, whereas the cost for families is $175.
Barclay says the club is open to anyone, especially with its location to the beach. It can make for a nice afternoon to sit by the beach before heading into the clubhouse for dinner.
