YEARS 2005 TO 2009
In order to camouflage the underside of our raised deck and the material stored beneath it, a wood lattice was constructed and painted white along with a sign for the club, at the initiative of our Commodore, Peter McDougall. This succeeded in improving the attractiveness of our impressive clubhouse.
In 2007, Peter McDougall took charge of the installation of an electric operator for our main gate so as to provide better security for our club and its members.
As well, in 2008, Peter conceived of and had fabricated to order a removable tent enclosure for our deck, supported by the mast derrick. This offers a quickly installed protection for outdoor social events in case of rain.
In 2009, our manual pumpout was replaced by an electric vacuum pumpout complete with reservoir and automatic controls. This improvement was conceived by Martin Michaud and he was assisted in its installation by Régis Santerre and Guy La Rochelle. As well, in 2009, the electrical main feeding the clubhouse, the electrical power to the south jetty and the wiring of the clubhouse was upgraded under the direction of Peter McDougall.
YEARS 2000-2004
In 2001, the club finances allowed for the reconstruction of the main dock, which had required constant repairs. The concept was to construct the new dock as a steel frame supported by plastic barrels. The team of Sylvain Dumais, Gerry Hickey and Clément Monet along with the assistance of Norm St-Aubin, prepared plans which reduced the number of slips available but increased the width of each slip so as to accommodate the tendancy towards larger boats in the future. The drawings were submitted to a miscellaneous metal fabricator in Vaudreuil for the fabrication of the steel frames in time for our Spring work days. The wharf was assembled by our members in a workmanlike fashion and was launched with great success. The following year the second wharf was re-constructed in similar fashion.
During the years 2000 and 2001 several loads of stone were spread in the parking and roadway areas as well as the main jetty, under the organization of Peter McDougall.
With the demise of our floating derrick, we were forced to use outside help in order to manipulate our wharf and buoy anchors. Therefore, in 2003 Peter McDougall and Clément Monet decided to construct a pontoon raft complete with derrick and chain block hoist. The usual team of Gerry Hickey built and launched the raft, and Sylvain Dumais furnished the chain block.
Also in 2003, Pierre Larichelière, engineer in roofing, offered his services to renew the surface of our special roof, which at the time leaked in several areas. His plan of action was accepted and he undertook the work of the repairs. Upon his departure to Jamaica, the continuance of the repairs was undertaken by Bernard Lugagne over the following two years in order to complete the project.
Following our experience with the steel framed wharfs, Harbour Master Peter McDougall and Jacques Crevier designed in 2004 three shoreline wharfs which were constructed by the members and successfully launched at positions A, B and C. Eventually other shorline wharfs will be similarly replaced as the need arises.
The year 2004 also saw the birth of our internet website as conceived and constructed by our Commodore Guy La Rochelle. This brought our club into the new age and allowed for far better communication with the public and between our members.
YEARS 1983 TO 1999
Proud of the accomplishments of our predecessors we were not without strong contributors following in their footsteps in order to preserve and improve upon the heritage that they had left us. The arrival of bigger and bigger boats along with our experiencing in 1987 the lowest water level since the club's creation, put us in the unenviable position of being unable to move a large portion of our fleet in the harbour. In fact, the keels were mired in the mud bottom and the boats were imprisoned in the harbour for several weeks. Winter was approaching and it was imperative to find a solution to allow for the outhauling of the boats.
The Board therefore decided to appoint Jacques Crevier, Bob Forest and Pierre Belec to find an emergency solution. They decided to block both openings into the harbour with earth and fill material in order to pump enough water into the harbour so as to be able to move the boats over to the haulout pier. It was a strange but very successful outhaul from a harbour that was above the level of the lake!
Once the boats had been removed, other decisions had to be made. Not having a deep enough harbour and with it already dammed up. the decision to excavate was an easy one. The task was to pump out the harbour, obtain the necessary permits and to provide the machinery necessary for the dredging. Norm St-Aubin, a longtime friend of the club and a practical marine expert, was appointed to the task as superintendant for the project. During this, one of the coldest Autumns of the decade, the excavation of tons and tons of mud, cobbles, earth and boulders proceeded with the material deposited on our property to dry out and be inspected by the ministry as to its disposal. At the same time we profited by the construction of a new concrete launching ramp and the solidification of our concrete block jetty wall. With the harbour now at a new minimum depth of 6 feet, all that was left was to pump the water back into the harbour and to remove the earth dykes at the two openings. This was accomplished just before freeze up. The project was financed by an increase in the club's social fees which was accepted in good spirit by the members, as well as the sale of a small piece of our property.
In 1994, with racing becoming nore popular at the club, Pierre Vézina started to search for a committee boat to manage the starts. Claude Auger negotiated an excellant price for the purchase of a starting boat that the HYC were wanting rid of. She was christened Rose de Borée after a naming competition was won by Normand Prévost.
Members complained as to the narrowness of our flying balcony for the socializing after sailing and with its deterioration, it was decided in 1995 to construct a new, much larger elevated deck that could be used with tables and chairs instead of the lawn furniture which had been in use up until then. The project, planned by Pierre Vézina, Tony Petraccone and Jacques Dauphin was turned over to Claude Lauzon, master carpenter, with the assistance of volunteers such as Jean Martin, André Guerin, Clément Monet amont several others. Claude had already carried out repairs to the main beams of the clubhouse in 1994 so well, that our confidence in his abilities was well founded.
In 1996, the Statutes and Regulations were updated and adapted to our current needs by Gaetan Lalumière, Pierre Vézina, Clément Monet and Huguette Le Blanc who, after numerous meetings, revisions and discussions in order to include for every possibility and to protect the well being of the club, achieved a valuable work of art that is still in effect.
The year of the ice storm of 1998 was infamous and caused terrible damage to our trees. The considerable task of cleaning up all the debris from felled trees and broken brush was undertaken under the management of Tony Petraccone and Jacques Crevier with the support of all the members.
Once the harbour was dredged to a sufficient depth, it was the compicated channel with its shoals and boulders that made for hazardous navigation out of and into our harbour. It was decided in 1999, that once having obtained the necessary permits, the channel would be re-dug straight out from the entrance at the proper depth. André Pitre led the work with André Lauzon, André Guerin, Clément Monet and several volunteers. The project consisted of dredging a channel 30 feet wide with a depth of 6 feet and to dispose of the excavated material on the point adjacent to the bridge. Unfortunately, inclement weather, the little time available and some difficulties reduced the results to a channel of some 20 feet wide and more or less 5 feet of depth. A result still very worthwhile and a big improvement over what we had had.
Early historyof the club The first 25 years
(Extract from the official History by Guy La Rochelle)
Acquisition and development of the land....
Commodore Bart Morgan tells us that in 1959 thanks to the enthusiasm of Arthur and Penny Tree the idea of forming a Yacht Club in Senneville was born. Longtime racers in Europe around 1938 and organizers of regattas, our community intrigued the Trees and upon several occasions in 1954, they roamed the area in search of an ideal site to establish a club for small dinghies. In 1957, in a meeting on Pacific Street at the home of Sandy Stewart, it was decided to support such a project.
Thanks to Bart Morgan, they acquired our site for the cost of one dollar. The owner of the land, his grandfather James Morgan stipulated that the land be used for a Yacht Club. The formalities once settled allowed the preparations to proceed for the site and the harbour in order to allow access for small dinghy sailing.
(After tnis initial impetus in starting the club off, five years later, the club paid for the land)
The first fleet of boats for the club (Graduate dinghies)
Since most members did not own a boat, it was decided to purchase 16 dinghies made of mahogany plywood by the Australian Bob Harris, a boat builder located in Lachine. Despite several modifications during their construction, the 13 foot Graduates remained competative performers and opened the door to racing regattas.
Competition begins.
From these beginnings, several competitions were held in Vaudreuil Bay where the public (members and their families) could observe the racing directly from the club. During four years the Graduates were quite successful, giving way in 1963 to the Flying Junior of Tom Donald, winner of the Taylor Bayley Trophy, which had been won in 1959 and 1960 by Sandy and Rory Stewart. The early bigger boats counted among themselves four Filibusters of 16 feet in length of French design. Bill Dawson won the Victor Birks Trophy in one of these boats in 1962 against Arthur Tree on the Lake of Two Mountains (Side note: Peter McDougall, Commodore in 2005 worked for Bill Dawson's construction company as a university student in 1962 and later as an engineer in the early 60's)
Later on Maraudors, Sharks and Tanzer 22's followed, with demands for more facilities, etc.
Creation of the harbour
Dredging of the Harbour...
Yes, keel boats finally made their appearance with additional demands on the harbour.... At the end of the 1964 season, with a very low water level, the Board organized a special meeting with the commodore Stewart Swan presiding. It was decided to improve the harbour by adapting the levels of the site to the depth of water required. Bill Dawson took charge of the excavation of the harbour with large equipment. Five days later on the 17th of October at 6:00, all the work was completed, including a concrete ramp. An opening was created in the jetty and to the pleasure and applause of the crowd, the harbour slowly filled to regain its character. The following spring, a drag shovel opened up the harbour entrance, and for a few $1000 and a grant from Public Works Canada, we succeeded in dragging the bottom of the entrance out to the channel.
Club House Construction
Congratulations to Bill Dawson. He provided the necessary energy to push for acceptance of the project, the organization to obtain the materials and to oversee the construction, a real team effort. The impressive design of the clubhouse was carried out by the famous architect Victor Prus, a resident of Senneville and a neighbour. Eddie Smallhorn, the mayor of Senneville, inaugurated the building in 1961.
The gap
The gap between the jetty and our site was necessary to follow the regulations to preserve the current of water along the shoreline. Russ Park who was in charge of House & Grounds, worked hard, even while on vacation, in order to find a solution to bridge the gap. A floating bridge was not practical. How to do it? Passing Dominion Bridge one day, Russ met Bob Reid, engineer and general manager. He told his story to this old friend from Winnipeg, and Bob, very sympathetic to our cause, interceded with Ross Chamberlain, engineer, lover of nature and of boats.
After analysis, thinking and research, Ross uncovered two steel girders of 72 feet in length in the company's yard (girders removed from the Victoria Bridge during the Seaway modification project in 1959) In addition, Dominion Bridge delivered the large girders to our site. We see them anchored to cribs built of railroad ties on each shore. Meanwhile, Ingo Pasold wished to aid the cause and promote the enthusiasm for the project, by making a contribution of $500 to the club, much to the joy of the members.The creosote treatment of the wood was done by Domtar of Valleyfield, thanks to Borden Marshall. Jacques Daoust took care of the transport of the wood, to and fro. Thanks to all, who from far and near lent their aid to the realization of the project. Especially Russell Park. Misssion accomplished!
Founder deeds
A task over ten years.
In 1969, Russell Park formed a committee of three members with a mandate to update the regulations of the Senneville Yacht Club. Tom Donald, Bob Legge and Kock Hove took the initiative to make a projection of the increase in members, revenues and expenses. The provision for the increase in members was correct, however, as far as the budget forecast goes, the inflation of the late 1970's could not have been foreseen.
The spirit of cooperation.
It is evident that our club would not exist if not for the cooperation and efforts of each and every member. All this passion, love of nature and fresh air, this love of life (a bit like our forebears) without regard to differences, has allowed our club and harbour to flourish. Congratulations to all. It is impossible to not mention others who have left their imprint on our club.
Étienne Dubreuil and Richard Walker, authors of the history, the First 25 Years.
Gordon Campbell, for many harbour improvements, such as the launching winch, our first floating derrick and his hanger which still serves us as a storage shed.
Ewen Orr, a very active member, who instructed members in the intricate handling of dinghy sailboats. Drummond McCall, where he worked, provided us with two aluminum gangways which are still being used. In 1962, the first women's committee was founded by Ann, Ewen's wife.
Bob Legge, legal advisor to the club over several years.
Sara Swan, first leader of the women's committee, and all those women who added not only their labour for the club but also their creativity, imagination and their efforts to provide a pleasant and warm atmosphere to the club.
Anneke Prat, who in the early years, took care of the flowers around the site.
Marcel Corthésy for the construction of the lawn chairs.
Jacques Leblance, who in the years 1980 to 1981 worked non-stop for House & Grounds.
Doug Ball for his two years as Commodore, and for his efforts, enthusiasm and successes in the holding of regattas.
Ingo Pasold for his implication. He convinced the contractor for the new Veteran's Hospital to transport and dump excavated rock material on site to level it and to improve the substructure of the parking area. He oversaw the carrying out of many improvements and harbour structures and along with Chuck Mathieu did an excellant job of maintaining the club's boats.
As you can see, this has been a brief resumé of all the talent available to us over the years. Many helped us without thought of remuneration; authorities, members and non-members alike, contractors, businesses - the efforts of all together to accomplish common goals.
Thank you to all, and we are convinced that the same spirit will persist in the years to come.
The end
