The following excerpt was taken from the book "Prevailing
Westerlies A History of Sailing in
Saskatchewan" by Terry Pugh,
published by the Saskatchewan Sailing Clubs Association
The Birth of the Regina Beach Yacht Club:
On May 3, 1913, four men met at the residence of W. T.
Daniel in Regina Beach, a small village near the southern end of Last Mountain
Lake, about 40 miles north of Regina. The four: Charlie Brewster, Dr. G.
A. Charlton, W. T. Daniel and F. G. Green, decided "to apply to the
Canadian Pacific Railway Company for a lease of sufficient ground on the water
front to build a yacht clubhouse..." They met again a week later and
W. T. Daniel reported he had been successful in "securing a lease from the
C. P. R.... at a nominal rental of one dollar per annum," according to the
Regina Beach Yacht Club's (RBYC) official minutes book. The four men went
on to have the RBYC incorporated under the Benevolent Societies Act on May 24,
1913, after drawing up bylaws and a constitution. Charlie Brewster was
elected the first Commodore and Archie Trotter was the first timekeeper, a
position which indicated that racing was uppermost in the new club's mandate.
The objectives of the club were spelled out: in the
bylaws
"First, to encourage members to come proficient in
personal management, control and handling of their yachts in navigation, and in
all matters pertaining to seamanship.
"Secondly, to promote yacht architecture, building
and sailing in Canadian waters.
"It is enacted, that the funds of the Club (after
paying the funded debt and necessary current expense) be appropriated by the
Executive to prizes of money or trophies to be sailed for as may be decided by
the Sailing Committee."
The club elected to "allow races, open to all
comers, to be sailed under the Club patronage and management. In Club
races, and all races under Club management, the rules and time allowances
of the Lake Yacht Racing Association shall be used, subject to such variations
or alterations in Club races as the Sailing Committee shall think fit."
The RBYC founders also felt it was best to limit any
heated debate to incidents which occurred on the water. "Politics and
religious questions of every kind shall be absolutely excluded from open
discussion in the Club."
In addition to the elected posts of Commodore,
Vice-Commodore, Rear-Commodore and Secretary-treasurer, the RBYC allowed for the
appointment of members to a "House Committee, Launch Committee, Grounds
Committee and Finance Committee". An overall "Committee of
Management" was headed by the Commodore to oversee the work of these
committees.
But while these groups were appointed to take care of
the nuts and bolts of the operations, it was the "Sailing Committee"
that was charged with organizing and running the races. According to the
bylaws, the RBYC designated the second Saturday of every October as the date
when the seven-member Sailing Committee was to be elected. "The
Sailing Committee shall have entire control of all sailing matters of the
Club," stated the bylaws. "They shall take charge of the Club
races and regattas and shall enforce the observance of the sailing regulations
generally." It further added this committee "shall have power to
engage an Official Measurer, to be paid such salary and remain in office for
such period as may be decided upon by said Committee. It shall be the
Measurer's duty to measure all yachts belonging to the Club fleet, to make
correct reports of the rig, dimensions, name and ownership of the same in a
register, which shall be kept in the Club house, and prepare and transmit a copy
thereof to the Secretary to be posted in one of the Club Rooms."
The above excerpt was taken from the
book "Prevailing Westerlies A History of Sailing in
Saskatchewan", by Terry Pugh.