Cyber Islander
By Jean Gora
The Put-in-Bay Yacht Club
Have you ever wondered what all those boats in the Put-in-Bay Harbor are
doing there on summer days? Some of them belong to the members of the
Put-in-Bay Yacht Club, located on the lake in the PIB harbor. If you are
not a club member and want to find out what they are doing, you can
visit the club’s Internet site (www.pibyc.org). Little sailboats will
follow your cursor on the site. There you will find a schedule of club
events; the Jib Sheet, the club’s newsletter (published monthly during
the summer months and less often the rest of the year); maps showing not
only the PIB harbor, but also the complete Lake Erie Islands and the
western half of the lake; and links to other boating sites.
The club also sponsors Inter-Lake Yachting Association (I-LYA) events
that attract boaters from all over the lake. In 2001, it will host the
I-LYA junior sail regatta on July 15-19, the I-LYA power boat regatta on
July 31-August 4, the I-LYA senior sail deep water race on August 3-5,
and the 108th I-LYA sail regatta on August 6-8. The I-LYA senior sail
deep water race includes the following laps: Buffalo to Put-in-Bay -
Thursday, August 2; Cleveland to Put-in-Bay - Friday night, August 3;
Sandusky, Sandusky Steeplechase and Port Clinton to Put-in-Bay -
Saturday, August 4; and Detroit and Toledo to Put-in-Bay - Sunday,
August 5.
The club also sponsors cruise-outs, where club members cruise together
to other ports. In 2001, the club plans cruise outs to Rattlesnake
Island on June 24 and to the Huron Yacht Club for the Irish Festival on
August 10-12. Other cruise-outs are in the works for 2001. In 2000,
there was a cruise-out to Pelee Island.
Since 1949, the club has offered summer classes in swimming and sailing
to the public. The swim classes run from June 18 - July 13. The
registration date for the 2001 classes is June 10. Supporters of the
club’s activities donate swimming pool use. The yacht club depends on
fund raising events and donations to buy and maintain boats used in the
sailing courses. The tuition charged for the courses barely covers the
instructors’ fees. Many of the classes are targeted at children, but
the club also offers a sailing class for adults. Some weekend classes
may be introduced in 2001. In 2000, about 70 people participated in
the swimming or sailing classes.
The club sponsors a number of social events on land for members.
Judging by the photos on the site, they have a really good time. During
the 2000 season, the club had beer parties, an Italian dinner, several
fish fries, and pancake breakfasts.
A membership survey conducted this past winter (which had a 43%
response rate) showed that three-quarters of the club’s members are 50
or older; 60% are couples; 32% have been members for 21 years or more;
68% own boats. Of these, 47% are 30 or more feet in length.
The club initiation fee is $250. The annual dues fee for regular
members is $200. The club by-laws accept only 500 voting members. The
club promotes yachting, power boating, canoeing and other aquatic
sports. Regular members must be at least 21 and have good moral
character. The site includes a membership application and an
application for boat storage. Members can register for club events
on-line as well as by phone. The site’s web "skipper" is Bob Bahney.
|
Return to
Jib Sheet