Wind in the Sails, Chapter One
The Edmonton Yacht Club had its beginning in the spring of 1923. It was the intention of the club to secure headquarters at Cooking Lake. Cooking Lake was chosen, by those interested in introducing the sport of Yacht Racing to Edmonton, partly because of its accessibility and also because Cooking Lake was the popular resort for Edmonton people. As stated in The Edmonton Journal at the time, the lake compares favorably with any body of water where yachts of the shallow draught type are raced. The lake is 20 miles long, consisting of really two lakes, North Cooking Lake and South Cooking Lake, connected by a channel called The Narrows. There are several islands and many large bays, making a varied shore line. The bottom of the lake is soft and there are very few rocks to contend with.
The white winged yachts being sailed at Cooking Lake were from a design selected because of its general adaptability and safeness. They were One Design Yachts, 22 feet long and carried 260 feet of canvas. Roy Gerolamy had a boat factory at North Cooking Lake, and had built three yachts which were being sailed at the lake.
The first officers of the yacht club were:
Commodore – Frank B. Matthews
Vice-Commodore – Ernest Henderson
Secretary-Treasurer – R. O. C. Bennett
Executive Committee – Dr. W. A. Wilson, Clyde Gillies, Sidney C. Gosling
The Hudson’s Bay Company donated a challenge cup and other cups were offered during the summer for sailing in 1924. Races were held during the summer with many spectators, who were annoyed that the sails did not have numbers, so the sailors obliged and had numbers put on their sails. The final race of the summer was held on Labor Day weekend for the Hudson Bay trophy. The cruising race was won by Frank Matthews in the yacht Meowasin. There were four yachts in the race and many spectators on the shore, with much interest, and it was hoped that more yachts would be built for the next year.
A dinghy race was held in September with four boats competing, two from North Cooking Lake and two from South Cooking Lake. The dinghy was a 14 ft boat with a crew of two. The race was won by Clyde Gillies in The Jake and 2nd finisher in the race was Wop May, of aviation fame.
The 1924 season opened on Dominion Day with the dinghies and yachts sailing. Two more yachts had been built over the winter by Roy Gerolany and a third under construction. They were very well built and well received. They can carry many passengers and require a racing crew of four. The first race was won by Pat Morris in his dinghy Siwash.
In the interest of Inter-Lake racing a challenge race was held on Lake Wabamun, at Seba Beach on August 16th, 1924. Mr. & Mrs. Clyde Gillies from Cooking Lake were competing against a crew from the Seba Beach Boat Club. Mr. & Mrs. Gillies sailed the McIntyre Class B yacht to challenge A. W. Challandís's Class B yacht, sailed by Dan Smith and his brother Norman.
There were four races, two in the morning with good winds and two in the afternoon, which started out well but as the day wore on the winds fell and the race was very slow. They started the races from the buoy off Dan Smith's Boathhouse to Coal Point (Fallis) and then to a buoy off Hurry Home, and the finish at Dan Smith's Bathhouse. The series was won by the Seba Boat Club skipper, Dan Smith. The day was very successful and it was hoped that more of these races could be held.
The Devil's Lake Yacht Club also held races and two of their best sailors competed in the Northern Alberta Yachting Association races on Labor Day weekend at Cooking Lake. The two skippers from Devil's Lake were J. Bishop and R. Aitcheson and Clyde Gillies and R. Bennett were the skippers from Cooking Lake. This was the first annual event of the Northern Alberta Yachting Association and created much interest. The General Accident Assocation cup was won by the Edmonton Yacht Club.
A handsome silver trophy cup was presented to the Edmonton Yacht Club by H. H. Cooper, manager of Macdonald's Consolidated Ltd., to be competed for annually. The Hudson's Bay cruising race was sailed on Sept 7th with 8 yachts competing and won again by Frank Matthews in the Meowasin.
The annual meeting of the Edmonton Yacht Club was held Feb 16th, 1925. The election of officers for 1925 was held with the same executive as in 1924, with the exception of the sailing executive, which was J. MacQuarrie, Frank Barnhouse and J. B. Robertson. At the same time, the Northern Alberta Yachting Association elected officers for the year 1925.
President – Commodore F. B Matthews
Vice-President – J. Bishop, Commodore, Devil Lake Yacht Club
Secretary-Treasurer – R. O. C. Bennett
Executive Committee – M. J. Warner, R. A. Aitcheson, S. C. Gosling, Clyde Gillies
The first race of the season was held at Cooking Lake on June 14th, 1925 with five large yachts and two smaller ones competing. Sidney Gosling won the race in the Rambler.
The Edmonton Yacht Club purchased a handsome trophy to be called the Godden Cup, in memory of the late Joe Godden, one of the first and greatest enthusiasts of sailing on Cooking Lake. The series of races to be held on Sundays in August. The final race of the season was held on Labor Day Sept 7, 1925 and won by Ted Field in the Cree.
In 1926 Frank Matthews was again commodore and due to the increase in the number of yachts it was decided to have three classes of boats.
Class A - One Design Yachts, sailing for the Godden Cup
Class B - Lighter Yachts to sail for General Assoc. Cup
Class C - 14 foot Dinghys to sail for Macdonalds Consolidated Cup
The cruising race for the Hudson's Bay Trophy was held Aug 29th, starting at South Cooking Lake rounding a buoy at North Cooking Lake finishing at the south end, a distance of approximately 25 miles. It was a close race and won by Skipper Don Edwards. This was a new yacht, one design class, but with a longer mast and sail of a leg-o-mutton shape that goes to the top of the mast. It was built by Roy Gerolamy, who was also on board.
In 1927 the big event was the participation of a boat from Calgary taking part in the Northern Alberta Regatta races on the Labor Day weekend. The Dinghy, name The Calgary, was owned by Roy Lea, of Chestermere Lake Club, and was shipped to Edmonton and then taken to Cooking Lake for the event. Roy Lea and Sergt. Michael Sullivan were seasoned sailors from the Calgary area and promised to give the Edmonton sailors a good race. The series was won by Roy Lea of Calgary and runner-up was Ted Field of the Edmonton Yacht Club and they hoped to create interest in the inter-club races in the future. The Hudson's Bay Trophy Cruising Race was won by Skipper W. Lutz in the Kathwyn.
A successful year of sailing in 1928 was held under the leadership of Ernest Henderson as commodore. On the Labor Day weekend the inter-lake races were again held, with Roy Lea again competing from Calgary. There was also a dinghy from Gull Lake, owned by Howard Emery and sailed by F. B. Matthews. The General Association Cup was won by Ted Field of the Edmonton Yacht Club. Roy Lea showed himself a good sportsman by cutting a foot off the stern of his boat to make his boat equal to the other dinghys, though he did not know how his boat would sale. The Hudson's Bay Cup was won by W. Lutz in the Kathwyn.
The annual meeting of the Edmonton Yacht Club was held in the spring of 1929, with W. Lutz commodore. It was decided to erect a mast from which all signals could be flown. A presentation was also given to Ernest Henderson for his active participation in the activites of the club since its inception, as he was leaving the city to live at the coast.
In 1929 club races were held at Lake Chestermere between Calgary Yacht Club and the Edmonton Yacht Club. Early in August two boats from Edmonton Yacht Club and three from Calgary Yacht Club competed for the Diamond Motor Trophy in three races, and all races wer won by Ted Field sailing the yacht Ackroyd. Many people journeyed out from Calgary to see the first Calgary and Edmonton competitions.
Speed boat races were also held at Cooking Lake in August with home-made boats powered by 10 h.p. engines. About 2,000 spectators came out to watch this exciting event. The Alberta Motor Boat Co. presented a cup to the winner, who was young Kelly Matthews, son of Frank Matthews, who won the Provincial Championship for a Class 'B' boat. Wells Thompson in a home-made boat 'Guess', powered by an 'Evenrude Speeditwin', won the open event. Dr. Herman Wood of Lake Wabamun had a spectacular spill in his boat. While going at a good speed his boat suddenly looped-the-loop and he was plunged into the water. He could not swim but managed to reach the upturned boat and coolly climbed on until he was rescued by James Weir of the Alberta Boat Co. Witnesses said that it was the most spectacular sight they had even seen.
On the Labor Day weekend, two boats again came from Calgary, owned by Roy Lea and Morris Shyback. The big race was the cruising race for the Hudson's Bay Trophy. This was won by Skipper R. McQuarrie in the 'Clare', a new boat on the lake, built and equipped by the owner Mr. Henderickson.
In 1930 the Alberta Yacht Association fall regatta was held at Lake Chestermere on the Labor Day weekend. In the dinghy class young Billy Bield, 16 years old, stole the show by defeating the veteran sailor Roy Lea, in a race sailed in gale force winds.
The Hudson's Bay Trophy Cruising Race for 1931 was won by Sidney Gosling in the 'Rambler' and George Barnhouse won the Godden Cup in the 'Satelina'. Three dinghys owned by Field, Hegler and Aitchison were hauled to Calgary early in September for the Association Cup, for the dinghy championship of Alberta Roy Lea, commodore of the Calgary Yacht Club, had won the championship in 1930. Bill Field had a new boat for the race but there are no records of the winner of this cup for the year 1931.
In the years 1932 and 1933 there was good sailing and the usual upsets. Morris Shyback, commodore of the Calgary Yacht Club, reported on the construction of a new pier for the better accomodation of members. Improvements were made to the clubhouse at the lake and additions to the building planned. 1933 promised to be a good year for the 25 craft owned and sailed by the members of Calgary.
In 1934, 2 teams of three dinghys, each from Calgary and Edmonton, sailed at Cooking Lake for the Alberta championship on August 11th weekend. Roy Lea, T. Lea and C. Wolf were the sailors from Calgary and F. Barnhouse, Bill Field and Commodore R. Aitchison were from Cooking Lake. After three races the Edmonton sailors were the winners of the championship. A new boat had appeared on the lake which seemed to be popular, 'The Snipe'. To encourage the racing of this new boat W. J. Dick donated a cup for annual competition.
R. Aitchison was again commodore in 1935 and Billy Field won the Godden Cup in the annual free-for-all race at Cooking Lake on Labor Day weekend. The inter-lake races were again held at Lake Chestermere and at the annual meeting in April 1936, at the home of W. J. Dick, Mr. Robertson showed his movie of the races from the previous summer at Lake Chestermere.
Records are sketchy for these years. The commodore George Barnhouse reported that three new cups had been presented to the Club for dinghy competition. The Toronto Canoe Club presented a cup for annual competition, hoping it would inspire keener competition among the Edmonton sailors. Messers, Irving & Lacey presented a cup and The Northwestern Utilities also presented a cup. Thedonors were written letters of of thanks and the cups were put up for monthly series races.
Sailing was becoming more popular at the other Alberta Lakes and clubs were being formed. There was racing at Sylvan Lake, Gull Lake and Wabamun, and the Inter-club races were held each year alternating between Cooking Lake and Lake Chestermere.
In the Spring of 1940, Commodor Bert Field received a request from the Seba Boat Club that the Edmonton Yacht Club keep the civic holiday weekend open in order that as many boats as possible from the club could compete for the McMullen Cup at Seba Beach. The invitation was accepted and we can only presume that the meet was a success. The McMullen Cup was won by Lorne McBurney from Cooking Lake. It must have made a good impression on the sailors from Cooking Lake, as it was after this visit that plans were made to move The Edmonton Yacht Club from Cooking Lake to Lake Wabamun. Cooking Lake was shallow in some places and there were problems. Also as the roads were now better, and paved or gravelled, they could travel farther afield for sailing meets. There was also an enthusiastic group of sailors at Seba Beach. Dr. Forrester, commodore of Seba Sailing Club, was a good friend of Frank Matthews and instrumental in getting the club moved to Lake Wabamun.
We have much to thank the early sailors of Cooking Lake for as they did so much to promote sailing in Alberta. The Edmonton Yacht Club had a very good beginning at Cooking Lake and the move to Lake Wabamun promised a good future for the sailing club.
The white winged yachts being sailed at Cooking Lake were from a design selected because of its general adaptability and safeness. They were One Design Yachts, 22 feet long and carried 260 feet of canvas. Roy Gerolamy had a boat factory at North Cooking Lake, and had built three yachts which were being sailed at the lake.
The first officers of the yacht club were:
Commodore – Frank B. Matthews
Vice-Commodore – Ernest Henderson
Secretary-Treasurer – R. O. C. Bennett
Executive Committee – Dr. W. A. Wilson, Clyde Gillies, Sidney C. Gosling
The Hudson’s Bay Company donated a challenge cup and other cups were offered during the summer for sailing in 1924. Races were held during the summer with many spectators, who were annoyed that the sails did not have numbers, so the sailors obliged and had numbers put on their sails. The final race of the summer was held on Labor Day weekend for the Hudson Bay trophy. The cruising race was won by Frank Matthews in the yacht Meowasin. There were four yachts in the race and many spectators on the shore, with much interest, and it was hoped that more yachts would be built for the next year.
A dinghy race was held in September with four boats competing, two from North Cooking Lake and two from South Cooking Lake. The dinghy was a 14 ft boat with a crew of two. The race was won by Clyde Gillies in The Jake and 2nd finisher in the race was Wop May, of aviation fame.
The 1924 season opened on Dominion Day with the dinghies and yachts sailing. Two more yachts had been built over the winter by Roy Gerolany and a third under construction. They were very well built and well received. They can carry many passengers and require a racing crew of four. The first race was won by Pat Morris in his dinghy Siwash.
In the interest of Inter-Lake racing a challenge race was held on Lake Wabamun, at Seba Beach on August 16th, 1924. Mr. & Mrs. Clyde Gillies from Cooking Lake were competing against a crew from the Seba Beach Boat Club. Mr. & Mrs. Gillies sailed the McIntyre Class B yacht to challenge A. W. Challandís's Class B yacht, sailed by Dan Smith and his brother Norman.
There were four races, two in the morning with good winds and two in the afternoon, which started out well but as the day wore on the winds fell and the race was very slow. They started the races from the buoy off Dan Smith's Boathhouse to Coal Point (Fallis) and then to a buoy off Hurry Home, and the finish at Dan Smith's Bathhouse. The series was won by the Seba Boat Club skipper, Dan Smith. The day was very successful and it was hoped that more of these races could be held.
The Devil's Lake Yacht Club also held races and two of their best sailors competed in the Northern Alberta Yachting Association races on Labor Day weekend at Cooking Lake. The two skippers from Devil's Lake were J. Bishop and R. Aitcheson and Clyde Gillies and R. Bennett were the skippers from Cooking Lake. This was the first annual event of the Northern Alberta Yachting Association and created much interest. The General Accident Assocation cup was won by the Edmonton Yacht Club.
A handsome silver trophy cup was presented to the Edmonton Yacht Club by H. H. Cooper, manager of Macdonald's Consolidated Ltd., to be competed for annually. The Hudson's Bay cruising race was sailed on Sept 7th with 8 yachts competing and won again by Frank Matthews in the Meowasin.
The annual meeting of the Edmonton Yacht Club was held Feb 16th, 1925. The election of officers for 1925 was held with the same executive as in 1924, with the exception of the sailing executive, which was J. MacQuarrie, Frank Barnhouse and J. B. Robertson. At the same time, the Northern Alberta Yachting Association elected officers for the year 1925.
President – Commodore F. B Matthews
Vice-President – J. Bishop, Commodore, Devil Lake Yacht Club
Secretary-Treasurer – R. O. C. Bennett
Executive Committee – M. J. Warner, R. A. Aitcheson, S. C. Gosling, Clyde Gillies
The first race of the season was held at Cooking Lake on June 14th, 1925 with five large yachts and two smaller ones competing. Sidney Gosling won the race in the Rambler.
The Edmonton Yacht Club purchased a handsome trophy to be called the Godden Cup, in memory of the late Joe Godden, one of the first and greatest enthusiasts of sailing on Cooking Lake. The series of races to be held on Sundays in August. The final race of the season was held on Labor Day Sept 7, 1925 and won by Ted Field in the Cree.
In 1926 Frank Matthews was again commodore and due to the increase in the number of yachts it was decided to have three classes of boats.
Class A - One Design Yachts, sailing for the Godden Cup
Class B - Lighter Yachts to sail for General Assoc. Cup
Class C - 14 foot Dinghys to sail for Macdonalds Consolidated Cup
The cruising race for the Hudson's Bay Trophy was held Aug 29th, starting at South Cooking Lake rounding a buoy at North Cooking Lake finishing at the south end, a distance of approximately 25 miles. It was a close race and won by Skipper Don Edwards. This was a new yacht, one design class, but with a longer mast and sail of a leg-o-mutton shape that goes to the top of the mast. It was built by Roy Gerolamy, who was also on board.
In 1927 the big event was the participation of a boat from Calgary taking part in the Northern Alberta Regatta races on the Labor Day weekend. The Dinghy, name The Calgary, was owned by Roy Lea, of Chestermere Lake Club, and was shipped to Edmonton and then taken to Cooking Lake for the event. Roy Lea and Sergt. Michael Sullivan were seasoned sailors from the Calgary area and promised to give the Edmonton sailors a good race. The series was won by Roy Lea of Calgary and runner-up was Ted Field of the Edmonton Yacht Club and they hoped to create interest in the inter-club races in the future. The Hudson's Bay Trophy Cruising Race was won by Skipper W. Lutz in the Kathwyn.
A successful year of sailing in 1928 was held under the leadership of Ernest Henderson as commodore. On the Labor Day weekend the inter-lake races were again held, with Roy Lea again competing from Calgary. There was also a dinghy from Gull Lake, owned by Howard Emery and sailed by F. B. Matthews. The General Association Cup was won by Ted Field of the Edmonton Yacht Club. Roy Lea showed himself a good sportsman by cutting a foot off the stern of his boat to make his boat equal to the other dinghys, though he did not know how his boat would sale. The Hudson's Bay Cup was won by W. Lutz in the Kathwyn.
The annual meeting of the Edmonton Yacht Club was held in the spring of 1929, with W. Lutz commodore. It was decided to erect a mast from which all signals could be flown. A presentation was also given to Ernest Henderson for his active participation in the activites of the club since its inception, as he was leaving the city to live at the coast.
In 1929 club races were held at Lake Chestermere between Calgary Yacht Club and the Edmonton Yacht Club. Early in August two boats from Edmonton Yacht Club and three from Calgary Yacht Club competed for the Diamond Motor Trophy in three races, and all races wer won by Ted Field sailing the yacht Ackroyd. Many people journeyed out from Calgary to see the first Calgary and Edmonton competitions.
Speed boat races were also held at Cooking Lake in August with home-made boats powered by 10 h.p. engines. About 2,000 spectators came out to watch this exciting event. The Alberta Motor Boat Co. presented a cup to the winner, who was young Kelly Matthews, son of Frank Matthews, who won the Provincial Championship for a Class 'B' boat. Wells Thompson in a home-made boat 'Guess', powered by an 'Evenrude Speeditwin', won the open event. Dr. Herman Wood of Lake Wabamun had a spectacular spill in his boat. While going at a good speed his boat suddenly looped-the-loop and he was plunged into the water. He could not swim but managed to reach the upturned boat and coolly climbed on until he was rescued by James Weir of the Alberta Boat Co. Witnesses said that it was the most spectacular sight they had even seen.
On the Labor Day weekend, two boats again came from Calgary, owned by Roy Lea and Morris Shyback. The big race was the cruising race for the Hudson's Bay Trophy. This was won by Skipper R. McQuarrie in the 'Clare', a new boat on the lake, built and equipped by the owner Mr. Henderickson.
In 1930 the Alberta Yacht Association fall regatta was held at Lake Chestermere on the Labor Day weekend. In the dinghy class young Billy Bield, 16 years old, stole the show by defeating the veteran sailor Roy Lea, in a race sailed in gale force winds.
The Hudson's Bay Trophy Cruising Race for 1931 was won by Sidney Gosling in the 'Rambler' and George Barnhouse won the Godden Cup in the 'Satelina'. Three dinghys owned by Field, Hegler and Aitchison were hauled to Calgary early in September for the Association Cup, for the dinghy championship of Alberta Roy Lea, commodore of the Calgary Yacht Club, had won the championship in 1930. Bill Field had a new boat for the race but there are no records of the winner of this cup for the year 1931.
In the years 1932 and 1933 there was good sailing and the usual upsets. Morris Shyback, commodore of the Calgary Yacht Club, reported on the construction of a new pier for the better accomodation of members. Improvements were made to the clubhouse at the lake and additions to the building planned. 1933 promised to be a good year for the 25 craft owned and sailed by the members of Calgary.
In 1934, 2 teams of three dinghys, each from Calgary and Edmonton, sailed at Cooking Lake for the Alberta championship on August 11th weekend. Roy Lea, T. Lea and C. Wolf were the sailors from Calgary and F. Barnhouse, Bill Field and Commodore R. Aitchison were from Cooking Lake. After three races the Edmonton sailors were the winners of the championship. A new boat had appeared on the lake which seemed to be popular, 'The Snipe'. To encourage the racing of this new boat W. J. Dick donated a cup for annual competition.
R. Aitchison was again commodore in 1935 and Billy Field won the Godden Cup in the annual free-for-all race at Cooking Lake on Labor Day weekend. The inter-lake races were again held at Lake Chestermere and at the annual meeting in April 1936, at the home of W. J. Dick, Mr. Robertson showed his movie of the races from the previous summer at Lake Chestermere.
Records are sketchy for these years. The commodore George Barnhouse reported that three new cups had been presented to the Club for dinghy competition. The Toronto Canoe Club presented a cup for annual competition, hoping it would inspire keener competition among the Edmonton sailors. Messers, Irving & Lacey presented a cup and The Northwestern Utilities also presented a cup. Thedonors were written letters of of thanks and the cups were put up for monthly series races.
Sailing was becoming more popular at the other Alberta Lakes and clubs were being formed. There was racing at Sylvan Lake, Gull Lake and Wabamun, and the Inter-club races were held each year alternating between Cooking Lake and Lake Chestermere.
In the Spring of 1940, Commodor Bert Field received a request from the Seba Boat Club that the Edmonton Yacht Club keep the civic holiday weekend open in order that as many boats as possible from the club could compete for the McMullen Cup at Seba Beach. The invitation was accepted and we can only presume that the meet was a success. The McMullen Cup was won by Lorne McBurney from Cooking Lake. It must have made a good impression on the sailors from Cooking Lake, as it was after this visit that plans were made to move The Edmonton Yacht Club from Cooking Lake to Lake Wabamun. Cooking Lake was shallow in some places and there were problems. Also as the roads were now better, and paved or gravelled, they could travel farther afield for sailing meets. There was also an enthusiastic group of sailors at Seba Beach. Dr. Forrester, commodore of Seba Sailing Club, was a good friend of Frank Matthews and instrumental in getting the club moved to Lake Wabamun.
We have much to thank the early sailors of Cooking Lake for as they did so much to promote sailing in Alberta. The Edmonton Yacht Club had a very good beginning at Cooking Lake and the move to Lake Wabamun promised a good future for the sailing club.