The Rendezvous Yacht Club is gearing up for what it’s commodore calls the “Come Sail With Us” program Saturday.
RYC Commodore Eric Johnson said the name used in the past — the new crew program — for Saturday’s program was ambiguous, leaving potential participants wondering what was expected of them.
“We’re not expecting a darn thing, just for people to get out on Rainy Lake and enjoy, and possibly experience a new hobby and new group of people,” said Johnson. “They just need to show up, have a good time and learn basic knowledge of sailing. If they enjoy it, they are more than welcome to pursue it with us any time.”
Veteran sailor and RYC member Peter Engberg, along with sailor and member Kevin Peterson and Johnson will lead Saturday’s program, which includes a half day of course work and a half day on five sailboats learning the ropes.
Participants are asked to preregister as soon as possible by calling Engberg at 807-486-1329 or Peterson at 286-1117 so enough boats may be made available, or another day of learning can be scheduled if needed to accommodate the number participants. Participants may pay the $20 fee at the door. See the RYC for more information at www.ryc.web.org.
Engberg said the program will offer information that people can use in a variety of ways: To help crew RYC races, discover if they enjoy sailing, and determine if they want to invest in the purchase of a sail boat themselves.
In addition, he said general knowledge of boating on Rainy Lake, which he said poses unique challenges because of its location straddling the Ontario and Minnesota border.
Participation in Saturday’s program also provides an associate membership in the club.
Six people have already registered and Saturday’s program can accommodate about 12 people, said Engberg.
Participants will receive a 60-page manual that includes information on basic sail trimming, race rules and boating safety.
“They can take that home and, if they missed something said by a skipper or can’t remember something, they can feel confident and look it up in the book,” he said.
Earlier crew programs were offered in two days, but Saturday it will be offered in one day, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rainy Lake Marine, at the end of Town Road 225.
The program also helps the club to recruit new members by imparting a knowledge of sailing. As a result, they may help crew with races and rides offered during Ranier’s summer festival.
The program will be led by local sailors who have plied the waters of the Caribbean and other big water locations and who have a lot of experience on Rainy Lake, said Engberg.
The program will include information common to all sailing, but also specific to Rainy Lake that includes knowing the regulations and rules about crossing water between Minnesota and Ontario and the seven different authorities that enforce those rules.
“This will be the complete event,” said Engberg, adding that information about the colored buoy system and how to read a map will be included.
