The History of the Fanshawe Yacht Club

Established in 1955 | Our Location

The Fanshawe Dam was built in the early 1950s' to control the flooding of the Thames River... thus creating Fanshawe Lake - the home of our club.

1953

By the end of April, the lake was a reality, and ready to use. On part of the west shore, there was a strip of sandy beach with a dock and a picnic park. This is where it all began.

The first boat to sail on the new lake was Jack McClatchie's 18' sailing canoe, sailed right off the beach in April. A few days later, Eric Skelton, our city engineer, put down the first permanent mooring for his dingy "Polly Wog". By the end of June, many more boats had joined the fleet on moorings. During the summer, rather informal races were held on most weekends. By August, the fleet had grown to 18 boats with a friendly gang of skippers wondering how they could keep in touch through winter and make plans for the next summer's sailing. At this point, Jack McClatchie invited the group to meet at his home, and talk about forming a club to represent them before the Conservation Authority.

1954

Early in the spring, a committee explored all the shores of the lake. With the approval of the Upper Thames Conservation Authority, they chose the location which we now occupy.

The ice and spring floods took the deck off the wharf at the beach. We were given this 12' x 100' deck to salvage and tow to our club location. With old oil drums under it, we had a floating dock which served us until the permanent dock was built.

1955

Everyone enjoyed a summer of good sailing, but the club was so loosely organized that it existed in a hand-to-mouth fashion. No firm plan was in place to ensure the succession, or the relief, of the elected members burdened with the management of the club. The club was growing, but so was the reluctance of many members to accept a nomination for office.

In October 1955, a business meeting, followed by a wiener roast, was well attended. At this meeting, a more structured organization was formed, with the name of "Fanshawe Yacht Club", and a formal staff of Flag Officers to be elected each year for a one-year term of office. A secretary- treasure and a social convener were also elected each year.

And the rest, as they say, is history - Jack McClatchie (1993)