About Us
The Erieau Yacht Club (EYC) is a not-for-profit membership organization led by volunteers dedicated to promoting sailing, swimming, and other aquatic adventures in the waters surrounding Erieau – Rondeau Bay and Lake Erie.
The EYC provides safe sailing, swimming, and learn-to-sail opportunities in an inclusive and family-friendly setting, with Summer Swim & Sail Camps for children, and social events throughout the season.
Our mission is to uphold the traditions of the Erieau Yacht Club while advancing the sport of sailing through competition, cultivation of new sailors, and fellowship. We sail for fun!
What We Sail
Our adult program consists of four racing fleets: Larks, Lasers, C-Scows, and Keel Boats. The Offshore Fleet (Keel Boats) races on Saturday afternoons; the Larks C-Scows and Lasers race on Sunday mornings with hot dogs hamburgers and EYC announcements post races at the clubhouse.
The Junior Sailors race Lasers, Topaz Unos, Picos and Optis on Saturday mornings.
A Brief History of the Erieau Yacht Club
Upon completion of an extensive public works program, Erieau was declared a “Port of Entry” in 1844. Directed by Lord Sydenham, the project included dredging a large sandbar at the entrance to Rondeau Harbour, and building piers and a lighthouse.
In 1885, the Erie & Huron Railway that linked Erieau with Blenheim and Chatham began to sell its excess property, and within two years, summer cottages began to appear in the village.
Across Rondeau Bay, Rondeau Provincial Park was gaining popularity with cottagers and summer visitors. Boaters would launch their crafts from both Rondeau and Erieau, and mix on the placid waters of the Bay.
Racing at Erieau started before the turn of the century beginning with large two-masted schooners that were also used for commercial fishing. Soon sailing dinghies built locally by Pop and Al Weir were the yacht of choice and an Erieau Championship Cup Race was established.
Although there was no known record of a formal organization as we know it today before 1932 those who liked sail boats held regular races on weekends and holidays except during both world wars.
Shortly after WWII a new boat made its appearance on the Bay. It was a flat bottom scow called a Lark. It became very popular and the fleet expanded rapidly at the expense of the dinghy which gradually disappeared.
In 1935 racing for young people was recognized and a junior yacht club was organized and continues to steadily grow even today. Swimming and sailing lessons were soon added to the program.
Social activities are always popular. A new clubhouse in which to hold all these activities was built in 1960. Dances, golf, picnics, banquets, etc are great attractions for adults, children and families throughout the season. A highlight of the summer for everyone is the Pied Piper Parade and Swimming Regatta.
Today Larks, C-Scows, Lasers, 420’s, Picos and Optimists are raced at EYC and at various inter club regattas.
