UPDATE TO YEAR 2006
This is the Club’s 34th year, still following the statement of our Constitution which reads:
“The object of the club is to promote and encourage interest in all classes of dinghy sailing within Mississauga. A club designed for the boat owner and non boat owner, the novice and expert sailor alike.”
The Club now has over 100 members (plus families) with a comfortable clubhouse and a compound for dry storage of Members’ boats. It is affiliated with the City of Mississauga’s Recreation and Parks and is situated on a very suitable site in the City’s Lakefront Promenade Park just off the Waterfront Trail; a ramp gives access to Lake Ontario through a protected bay.
Events in the sailing season include weekly “low-stress” club races and a couple of fleet cruises to local lakefront parks. The site is the venue for several dinghy regattas. Outside the sailing season there are numerous events “of interest to sailors” such as instruction on safety and racing, and theme parties.
We have no Club-run sailing school but all Sea Cadets from the area receive sail training through their #12 Sailing Centre at our site; the Club is co-sponsor of a local group of Sea Scouts who sail from the site.
1972 Beginnings
The Town of Mississauga advertised in the local paper for anyone who was interested in forming a small-boat sailing club to attend a meeting at Huron Park Community Centre. Approximately thirty-five people attended. A steering committee of about twenty volunteers was formed; Des Cowan was elected as Chairman or Commodore.
The first outing of M.S.C. was on Sunday Aug 20, 1972. Boats were launched at the public launching ramps on the west side of the Credit River.
1973
There were regular races on Thursday evenings from the mouth of the Credit River, around the oil refinery’s mooring "Cribs" and back.
A committee from the M.S.C. looked over all the waterfront parks for a suitable spot for a permanent site and ramp. "Waterworks Park"(now much developed and known as Lakefront Promenade Park) immediately west of the Lakeview Generating Station, was agreed on as being the most suitable. Negotiations with the City, S.A.C and Credit Valley Conservation Authority (C.V.C.A.) got underway with the help of the Mississauga Recreation and Parks Dept.
1975
Permit No 203P, dated May 9, 1975, was obtained from Credit Valley Conservation Authority "To construct a temporary boat launching ramp for sail boats".
Construction of the ramp started promptly by M.S.C. and at M.S.C.'s expense. Official opening of the ramp was
July 27 but without docks or wave protection.
Recreation and Parks supplied three small trailers for on-site storage of gear and protection from the weather – our first clubhouse.
Aluminum Crash Boat purchased for $100.00.
1978
C.V.C.A. wanted M.S.C. to move about 100 meters west to allow for construction of the eastern headland of the developing park, so they agreed to construct and pay for a double launching ramp at the new location.
Zodiac inflatable boat bought for rescue & race duty.
1980
Moved two-car garage to new site September 10 to serve as temporary clubhouse.
New floating docks on steel oil tanks constructed.
1981
Pan-a-Bode Cottage for clubhouse (gift from Mississauga Recreation and Parks) moved from Jack Darling Park to site in June.
Fenced storage compound installed for 60 boats.
1987
New floating docks constructed in empty warehouse by Members in one-day blitz.
Club & Pan-a-Bode Clubhouse moved west in park to permanent site with paved compound October 31st.
1988
Official Opening of our permanent new site June 12 by Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion and other prominent politicians.
Pan a Bode Clubhouse upgraded with sun-deck.
1991
PCYC moves from Port Credit site to adjoining bay in Lakefront Promenade Park and offers use of their new clubhouse facilities to M.S.C. for meetings, etc.
1994
Active Building Committee - Membership approves building of Clubhouse.
1997
This is the Club's Silver Anniversary.
New Clubhouse officially opened in June.
Sea Cadets commemorate 13 yr association with MSC.
1998-2002
Improvements to facilities, including roof deck and separate garage.
New buoys, radios and Zodiac safety boat to encourage expanded on-water programmes.
Après-race barbecues promote interest in weekly races.
Year-round use of clubhouse through regular winter activities “of interest to sailors”.
Gala celebration of 30th anniversary in July 2002.
2003-2004
Floating docks (built 1987) replaced in 2003 with plastic decking & wood frames on existing floats.
Serious efforts to up-grade Clubhouse, including lighting, electrics, uneven floor and flooding on ground-floor.
Decorating committee oversees general internal re-decorating by Members; Gardening committee organizes attractive outside plantings and lawn.
In 2004 held first [annual] Cross Border One Design (CBOD) regatta in early July.
In 2004 hosted 12th Wayfarer Worlds in conjunction with Port Credit Yacht Club. Fifty-nine boats, including over twenty from overseas and three from MSC, enjoyed “best ever” regatta week with a record 9 races and successful social programme.
Off-season activities included semi-monthly evening or breakfast “Sailors’ Gatherings”, sessions “of interest to sailors”. Membership reaches 106 (plus families).
2005-2006
“We consider our Club the best of its kind on (this side of) Lake Ontario”, says Mark Taylor, Commodore 2006. More volunteers, more participation – more SAILING for everyone.
Increasing attendance at pre-season events and meetings “of interest to sailors”. Over 30 regularly attend “Sailors’ Gatherings” on all aspects of sailing.
Weekly races regularly draw over 15 boats (despite many weeknight weather cancellations in 2005); increased emphasis on summer Sundays.
Landmark smoke-stacks (the Four Sisters) felled in June as early stage in demolition of 43-year old neighbouring Lakeview Generating Station.
In 2006, revised date and format for CBOD to attract wider range of boats from US-CAN.