WELCOME TO THE
CANYON LAKE YACHT CLUB
CANYON LAKE, CALIFORNIA
A Little Bit of Paradise!
Canyon Lake Yacht Club consists of 300 (and counting) enthusiastic members who love to enjoy the water. In fact, if there is one thing that ties us all together it is our love of the lake. We enjoy many activities that get us out on the water, as well as some awesome land-borne events that we do as a club.
If you love the lake and would like to hang out with others who love to get out on the water, we'd love to have you join us. No boat required! Check out the pages of this website to get to know us a little better, and then join us via our membership page. We'd like to get to know you and help you make lifelong friends who share the same interests. We invite you to be part of the Canyon Lake Yacht Club and enjoy "a little bit of paradise!"
CLYC Deckhand of the Month!
Aye, Aye Mates!!!! Anchors aweigh…All hands-on deck!
When our Commodore, Rob Mora, took over the helm in January, he told us to get our sea legs ready as he began to navigate us in the direction that our prior Commodore saw on the horizon. As we set sail, he battened down the hatches and began to focus on a better way to navigate our deckhands through a website that could not only host activities and other announcements, but also provide additional features that would make it easier to safely sail the following seas [lake] for the upcoming year. Although we were pretty even keeled, we needed to make sure we were squared-riffed and squared away and wanted to have, among other things, our activities highlighted, announce volunteer opportunities, advertise, and sell our merchandise and collect dues in one convenient location.
So mates, do NOT be caught dead in the water over the next year! As we cast off, look for opportunities as to how you can be our Deckhand of the Month! The Canyon Lake Yacht Club will be on the crow’s nest looking for that deck hand that goes the extra mile and guides us towards our destination. We have our map above but are always open to veering new courses too! Feel the talk of the boat and set your destination(s) and let us showcase you….
CLYC July 2025
Deckhands of the Month!
ALL HANDS-ON DECK!!!!!!
We are excited to share the next CLYC Deckhands of the Month!
Harold & Beverly Willard
A 65-year love story still cruising strong!
Early Years:
Beverly was born in California and later moved to Manitou Springs, Colorado. As the oldest of three, she helped her mom raise her younger siblings—work that gave her both grit and grace. She graduated in a class of just 54 students and, during her senior year, met Harold—a young man from nearby Colorado Springs—at the Fireman’s Ball. That chance meeting became a lifelong love story.
Starting Out Together:
Early on, they briefly lived with Harold’s parents—Harold and his brother even shared a room so Beverly could move in. Beverly’s independence soon took her back to Southern California to be near her dad. He’d promised her a 1958 Impala; when it didn’t run, she rode the bus from Long Beach to Santa Ana College—undeterred. Harold followed her west, finding work at the Orange County Register, which was connected to the company where his father worked back in Colorado. The couple married in Colorado Springs on December 23, 1960.
Building a Life:
Harold, who grew up on in a small farming community in Illinois before moving to Colorado at 15, built a printing career—first at the Orange County Register, later at the LA Times in Costa Mesa. He eventually took a leap and started a marking devices and rubber-stamp business, which grew into a company with 35 employees working 2 shifts, in a 10,000 sq. ft. building.
Beverly—tall, elegant, and full of energy—pursued runway modeling, even teaching runway modeling techniques. She earned first-place honors several times with the World Modeling Association in both Navada & New York. Together, they launched the marking devices company in Santa Ana. Their daughter was born in Orange, and the family later moved to Diamond Bar as their business thrived.
A New Chapter:
At 49 Harold retired and, led the family to Carson City, Nevada, where they lived for 23 years. Beverly later served as the Republican National Committeewoman for Nevada during the J.W Bush administration. Their daughter helped run the company with sharp instincts and a winning sense of humor. Selling the business gave Beverly and Harold something they’d long dreamed of—time to travel. They’ve since visited 67 countries, including 29 days at the 1980 Olympic Games in the then-Soviet Union; the tranquil gardens of Cuernavaca, Mexico; and unforgettable safaris across South Africa.
Love of the Water:
Closer to home, they spent years boating on the Colorado River near Blythe and Parker, where their love of the water deepened. A conversation on the river eventually led them to Canyon Lake. After selling their Nevada compound, they settled on Spray Drive, quickly becoming part of the heartbeat of our community.
Today:
After nearly 65 years of marriage, Beverly and Harold are still the couple who kiss and say “I love you” dozens of times a day—and who will always be each other’s favorite dance partner. They treasure time with their daughter and especially cherish every minute with their two granddaughters.
At CLYC, they’re often the first to raise their hands. You’ll find them serving food and refreshments during the fast-paced Parade of Lights, pitching in at the Commodore’s Ball, offering thoughtful ideas to make every event better, and welcoming new members with warmth. They’re the steady, behind-the-scenes presence that keeps our club running smoothly.
Please join us in celebrating Beverly and Harold Willard—for their love, laughter, and the inspiring example they set for all of us at the club and in life.
Fair winds, Beverly and Harold—and thank you for everything you do for CLYC.
Sailor Six Questions & Answers
Q: How long have you lived in Canyon Lake?
A: 10 years.
Q: How long have you been a member of the CL Yacht Club?
A: 7 years.
Q: If you were stranded on an island, where would want to be?
A: Greek Island Mykonos.
Q: What YC event do you look forward to the most?
A: Parade of Lights (Snack Bar Duty).
Q: Favorite water activity?
A: Sunset Cruise.
Q: Does your boat have a name? If not, would you call it?
A: Rascal #2.
Who will be our CLYC August Deckhand of the Month? Rumors have it that sailors tend to be predominantly realistic individuals, so we are looking for our sailor(s) that have contributed to the club by working outdoors and/or applying themselves to a hands-on project. Check out our website and see how this can be YOU!
SEE PAST DECKHANDS OF THE MONTH HERE!
First International Burgee Exchange - Thousand Islands Yacht Club,
Ontario Canada
June 19, 2024 - Cathy and Dan Lekawa are happy to deliver the first international burgee to the CLYC. It is from the Thousand Islands Yacht Club (TIYC) in Ontario, Canada. Thousand Islands is an archipelago of over 1,800 islands in the St. Lawrence River as it emerges into the Northeast corner of Lake Erie. It is also the home of Thousand Island dressing and contains one of Canada's oldest National Parks!
This burgee comes from a club with a kindred spirit to ours and an interesting story. We extracted this history from their website:
The TIYC came about as the result of a conversation in which one of a small group of boaters at a 1,000 Islands dock said he wished there was a way to get accommodation at various yacht clubs around Lake Ontario. He'd been turned away because he had no yacht club affiliation, or had to pay at others for a one-night stay.
Somebody mentioned the obvious: Why not form a yacht club? This group included no financiers or captains of industry. Among the lot, meeting the annual gas and booze bills and summer dockage was regarded as a feat of financial legerdemain.
The vision of a "yacht club" as exemplified by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club was so far from the realm of possibility among these short arms and deep pockets, it was beyond imagination...but not beyond the kind of ridicule stimulated by an early cocktail hour, boozy barbecue, after-dinner drinks and a full moon shining operation on Mermaid Island.
"We could just call ourselves a yacht club," one dogged dreamer persisted. "That's no good," was the retort. "You've gotta be RECOGNIZED." "How do you get recognized?"
....And so, on it went, and answers became as intangible as a Scotch mist. It was decided to ask the director of the Canadian Yacht Club Association (CYCA), Geoff Wheatley, on Monday (and somebody actually remembered!) Mr. Wheatley provided a quick answer: "Show me 10 members, pay me 10 bucks for each, and I'll register you as a yacht club....but there's one condition.", "What's that?" "I want to be a member too!"
So it was, in the year of 1981, the Thousand Islands Yacht Club was gathered into the bosom of the CYCA, and stamped with legitimacy.
Cathy met a member of the small yacht club earlier in our vacation when we were waiting for a ferry to Nantucket. This member convinced us to stop at Thousand Islands on our way to Niagara Falls from Montreal.
Upon arrival, we could not find anyone around. We knocked and entered the small shed known as their clubhouse. Although there was no one present, there was a counter of assorted candy bars, a jar for paying, a bottle of Southern Comfort next to an old microwave, and a 12 pack of beer on the messy desk. They had 3 burgees in their collection pinned on the wall, one being their own.
We finally bumped into Bill, the “Water Manager." We told him we had hoped to meet the commodore and exchange burgees. He volunteered to see if he could find one amongst the mess of maps and other papers. He couldn't so he took the last known burgee off the wall and said, "it is a little worn, but it is yours." He took ours in exchange. We expressed our appreciation and told him a little about our club.
The TIYC burgee has a story too. The red, white and blue colors, the maple leaf and the white stars on blue background are symbolic of the club's Canadian & American ties, while the six stars represent the six founding members that came up with the idea on the moonlit drinking night.
