WELCOME TO THE
CANYON LAKE YACHT CLUB
CANYON LAKE, CALIFORNIA
A Little Bit of Paradise!
Canyon Lake Yacht Club consists of 470 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 October 2024
Deckhand of the Month!
ALL HANDS-ON DECK!!!!!!
We are excited to share the next CLYC Deckhand of the Month!
Jeff Taylor
It’s our pleasure to recognize Jeff Taylor as October's Deckhand of the Month! To say Jeff does it all is an understatement. He has been a cornerstone and an invaluable member of the Yacht Club.
Jeff's contributions are numerous. He provided water taxi services for both Fiesta Days and the CLYC Skipper Island Chili Cook-Off. He has served as a driver trainer for the “Learn How to Drive Your Boat” clinic, participated in countless sunset cruises, and even stepped in to captain cruises when needed. Jeff also shared his expertise as a speaker at the recent “How to Decorate Your Boat” clinic, where he revealed his tricks for creating stunning displays.
When it comes to festive decorations, Jeff is in a league of his own. For years, he has transformed his home into a Halloween and Christmas wonderland, including an incredible light display featuring over 46,000 lights! It’s safe to say Jeff knows how to make an impression. This year, he’ll co-captain the Gingerbread Boat in the Parade of Lights, adding yet another feather to his cap.
A Little About Jeff
Jeff was born in Long Beach, CA, and lived in Hermosa Beach up until the age of 14. He began driving boats at the age of 10 and spent his teenage years fishing and surfing. Although he no longer surfs, his passion for fishing has endured, and he knows all the secret spots around the lake for a great catch-and-release adventure.
Jeff’s professional background is as diverse as his skills, with experience in Yamaha watercraft, motorsports, and recreational industries. After a work-related accident prompted a change in direction, he and his wife Nicole embarked on a new chapter of their lives.
Jeff and Nicole, who grew up attending rival high schools in Mission Viejo, eventually crossed paths at a local pub. Their connection blossomed, and two and a half years later, they tied the knot. They’ve now been married for five years and moved to the Lake three years ago—though it feels like they’ve been part of our community forever.
Together, Jeff and Nicole are active in numerous clubs and philanthropic efforts, always willing to lend a hand. They’re also live music enthusiasts, frequent concertgoers, and regular Bingo winners (much to the envy of fellow players!).
A Grateful Community
The Yacht Club and the greater Canyon Lake community are truly fortunate to have Jeff and Nicole among us. Jeff’s dedication, enthusiasm, and willingness to go the extra mile have significantly contributed to the success of many events throughout the year.
To show our appreciation, Jeff and Nicole were honored at a dinner at the Canyon Lake Country Club, accompanied by Commodore Rob Mora, Vice Commodore Dave Carter, and Membership Chair Cathy Lekawa.
Thank you, Jeff, for your tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to our club and community. We are deeply grateful for all you do!
Sailor Six Questions & Answers
Q: How long have you lived in Canyon Lake?
A: 3 years.
Q: How long have you been a member of the CL Yacht Club?
A: 3 years.
Q: If you were stranded on an island, where would want to be?
A: Oak Island “Looking for a treasure”.
Q: What YC event do you look forward to the most?
A: Any activity on the water.
Q: Favorite water activity?
A: Fishing & Floating.
Q: Does your boat have a name? If not, would you call it?
A: Wet My Taz.
READ ARTICLE ON CANYON LAKE INSIDER
Who will be our CLYC November 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.
