Welcome aboard!
The MacGregor Yacht Club of British Columbia (MYCBC) is a boat owners’ association based in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We are dedicated to enjoying everything the MacGregor boating lifestyle has to offer.
Whether you own an original MacGregor Venture, Classic, 26X, 26M or a Tattoo 26, you’re welcome to share in the fun, friendship and adventure of being a MYCBC member.
Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide range of boating and sailing experience. We all share two things in common: pride in owning a trailerable MacGregor or Tattoo sailboat, and a passion for having fun on and off the water.
The freedom and versatility of a MacGregor
What makes MacGregor sailboats so special? They offer the best of two boating worlds: the enjoyment of sailing and the convenience and flexibility of a trailerable boat.
Unlike traditional keelboats that are permanently kept in a marina, MacGregor owners have the freedom to hitch up their boats and explore new cruising grounds. Your sailing adventures aren’t limited to the waters close to home!
MacGregors combine a sailing keel, retractable rudders and water ballast with a design that allows them to be easily transported by trailer. Their versatile design makes it possible to enjoy everything from leisurely day sailing and coastal cruising to exploring distant destinations.
Some of the advantages of owning a MacGregor include:
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Go where you want: Tow your boat to different lakes, coastal destinations and cruising grounds without being tied to a single marina or home port.
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Sailing and power in one boat: Enjoy the experience of sailing, with the added versatility of an outboard motor for powered cruising.
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Explore more destinations: Launch in new locations and discover cruising areas that might otherwise be difficult to reach.
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Easier storage and maintenance: Trailerable boats offer alternatives to permanent marina moorage, potentially saving considerably on annual boating costs.
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A boat for adventure: From weekend outings and island hopping to extended coastal adventures, MacGregors offer plenty of opportunities to explore.
Our goal as a club is to be a valuable local resource for information, education and friendship for current and former MacGregor owners. We provide a place where members can share knowledge, develop their boating skills and create wonderful lifelong memories, both on and off the water.
Although the club operates out of the Greater Vancouver area, our membership extends throughout British Columbia and other provinces in Canada, as well as the United States.
The beautiful Pacific Northwest coastline is home to some of the finest sailing and cruising grounds in the world. Most of our sailing takes place in the protected waters of the Salish Sea, exploring the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands. We also organize occasional extended cruises to stretch our sails and explore new destinations.
Club Cruises and Sailing Adventures
During the summer sailing season, MYCBC organizes five official Club Cruises and four Confidence Cruises. In addition, members regularly organize informal Member Cruises throughout the year.
Our cruises are about much more than getting together on the water. They provide opportunities to meet other MacGregor owners, exchange ideas, develop sailing skills and discover new cruising destinations.
We also organize informal onshore information sessions during Club Cruises. These are opportunities for members to share their knowledge and experience in areas such as:
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Navigation, charts and route planning
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Weather forecasting and interpretation
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Knots and practical seamanship
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Boat maintenance and troubleshooting
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Tips and techniques for crossing the Strait of Georgia
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Anchoring, docking and safe boating practices
Whether you’re a new boat owner or an experienced sailor, there’s always something new to learn.
Club Cruises
May Regatta
Our sailing season traditionally gets underway with the May Regatta, held over the Victoria Day long weekend. The event is historically planned for Blaine Harbor Marina.
Friday begins with a dockside meet-and-greet. Members arriving by trailer can receive assistance with rigging and launching, while those arriving by water can get help with docking.
Saturday features a short safe-boating workshop, followed by a women’s-only Dock Talk and the Women’s Confidence Cruise. A safety sail gives boats and crews an opportunity to practice heaving to, crew-overboard recovery and emergency anchoring drills in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. Members who aren’t comfortable trying these manoeuvres on their own can join another boat as crew.
Saturday evening concludes with a potluck dinner at the marina.
Sunday is an opportunity to put your sailing skills to the test by navigating a regatta course and challenging yourself to beat your best time. Sunday evening is free for dinner on your own or a visit to one of the local restaurants.
June MacRendezvous
Held annually on the first weekend in June at Union Steamship Marina on Bowen Island, the June MacRendezvous is our main club gathering of the year.
Members arrive by boat or take the Bowen Island ferry to join the festivities.
Friday begins with a 10-nautical-mile sail from False Creek in Vancouver to Bowen Island. Once there, members gather for a dockside meet-and-greet, followed by wine and cheese provided by the club.
Saturday morning starts with the Commodore’s Pancake Breakfast. This is followed by workshops covering a variety of local sailing topics, an afternoon sail and a potluck dinner.
It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends, meet new members and enjoy a weekend of boating camaraderie.
July Cruise
Each year, the club leads a cruise to a different destination, highlighting some of the wonderful cruising grounds in the Gulf Islands or San Juan Islands.
Destinations and activities often incorporate Canada Day and July 4th celebrations, local farmers’ markets, lamb roasts and other community events.
Activities typically include potluck dinners, day sails and opportunities to explore the local area.
Flotillas are organized to help everyone enjoy a safe and comfortable trip to and from the destination, with experienced members available to provide assistance along the way.
August Cruise
Our August Cruise takes place over the August long weekend.
Club flotillas are organized to help ensure everyone has a safe crossing of the Strait of Georgia and a comfortable passage into the Gulf Islands or San Juan Islands.
Destinations are selected to introduce members to new and interesting cruising locations. The August destination is also coordinated with the July Cruise to ensure our northern and southern members have convenient access to at least one of these two summer events.
September Raft-Up
The September long weekend brings our sailing season toward a close with a traditional raft-up.
Historically, this event has been held at Sucia Island, although other locations may be selected.
Unlike our other Club Cruises, which generally use marina facilities, the September Raft-Up offers an opportunity to experience the pleasures of anchoring and gathering together on the water.
Flotillas are organized to make the trip safe and enjoyable. Once at the destination, boats can raft together in the anchorage or anchor independently for a quieter experience.
For members who are new to anchoring, this is an excellent opportunity to learn from more experienced boat owners.
There’s plenty to do once everyone is settled in. Explore the area by dinghy, go ashore for walks or hikes, enjoy the scenery and finish the day with a potluck dinner.
Confidence Cruises – Learn by Doing
Our Confidence Cruises are hands-on, one-day sailing and boating instruction sessions conducted aboard a club member’s MacGregor.
Each session is limited to a maximum of four participants, allowing everyone plenty of opportunity to participate and receive individual instruction from an experienced club instructor.
These popular educational outings are designed to help members become more comfortable and confident handling their MacGregor boats in a variety of conditions.
The goals of our Confidence Cruises include:
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Building practical skills in handling a MacGregor under power and under sail.
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Developing confidence when sailing in challenging weather, including wet and cold conditions.
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Learning and practicing deck work in less-than-ideal weather.
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Becoming comfortable moving about the boat while wearing foul-weather gear.
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Practicing reefing and balancing the boat’s center of effort.
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Learning safety techniques, including tethers and jacklines, heaving to, and handling swells.
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Understanding how proper clothing and preparation contribute to comfort and safety.
We currently offer four different Confidence Cruise programs.
MacSkills
Typically planned for early spring, MacSkills is an excellent introduction for new MacGregor owners and sailors.
Participants spend a day aboard a member’s boat, receiving practical instruction and coaching from an experienced senior member.
Conducted in protected waters, the session introduces the unique handling characteristics of MacGregor sailboats, including:
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Rigging and launching
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Slow-speed manoeuvring under power
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Basic boat handling and docking
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Introduction to sailing
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Crew-overboard recovery
It’s a great opportunity to become familiar with your boat and develop confidence before heading out on longer adventures.
MacSailing
Usually planned for June, MacSailing is a practical, hands-on day of sailing with an experienced club member.
This session focuses on the sailing characteristics of a MacGregor and provides an opportunity to learn about sail trim, boat balance and the unique features of these versatile boats.
Topics include:
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Boat balance: Understanding heel, helm and reefing
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Sail shape: Learning about lift, draft, twist and the tools available to control sail shape
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Points of sail: Understanding sail positioning, reaching and running
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Boat design: Understanding adjustable keels, retractable rudders and the differences between water ballast and traditional lead keel ballast
We highly recommend this four-hour sailing session for anyone new to sailing. It’s also particularly valuable for sailors with previous keelboat experience who want to understand the different handling characteristics of a MacGregor.
Participants are encouraged to have completed the MacSkills session before attending MacSailing.
MacFoulie
Typically planned for the fall, MacFoulie gives members an opportunity to experience sailing a MacGregor in more challenging weather conditions.
This full-day outing takes place in an open-water location and is coached by an experienced senior club member.
The focus is on developing confidence and practical skills when sailing in foul weather, including handling wind, waves, rain and colder temperatures.
Participants learn how to prepare themselves and their boats for changing conditions while practising techniques that contribute to safe and enjoyable sailing.
MacFoulie is a great way to put the skills learned during MacSkills and MacSailing into practice.
Women’s Confidence Cruise
Held in conjunction with the May Regatta, the Women’s Confidence Cruise is a special opportunity for women members to spend time together on the water with an experienced sailing coach.
This four-hour day sail aboard a MacGregor is tailored to the interests and experience levels of the participants.
The session covers various aspects of MacGregor boats, along with practical boating and safety tips.
Depending on the interests of the group, hands-on activities may include:
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Casting off and docking
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Boat handling and piloting under power
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Basic sailing techniques and boat balance
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Marine etiquette and navigation
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VHF marine radio operation
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General boating and safety practices
Everyone is encouraged to participate as much or as little as they feel comfortable. The emphasis is on having fun, learning new skills and building confidence in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Member Cruises
In addition to our official Club Cruises, members regularly organize informal Member Cruises.
These may be small groups heading off to a favourite destination, or simply a few boats getting together for a day sail around the bay.
Member Cruises are a wonderful way to explore new places, share experiences and enjoy the freedom of MacGregor sailing with friends.
Because our boats are trailerable, members can also organize adventures well beyond our usual cruising grounds, opening up a whole new world of boating opportunities.
Club Nights and Online Meetings
Our Club Nights are social and educational evenings that typically take place on the second Friday of February, March, April, May and September.
Our annual calendar also includes:
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October: Annual General Meeting
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November: Year-End Dinner and Awards Night
There are no regular Club Nights in December or January during the Christmas break, or in June, July and August during the summer sailing season.
Club Nights are held online using Zoom, allowing members from throughout British Columbia, other parts of Canada and the United States to participate.
These meetings provide an opportunity to catch up with fellow members, discuss club activities and enjoy educational presentations covering a wide range of boating and sailing topics.
Our online format is another way MYCBC makes membership accessible, even if you don’t live near Vancouver.
Regular meetings and presentations begin at 7:00 p.m.
Come Sail With Us!
Whether you’re just starting out in boating or are a seasoned sailor, the MacGregor Yacht Club of British Columbia has something to offer.
We’re a community of people who share a love of boating, adventure and friendship. You don’t need to be an expert sailor, own an expensive yacht or have a permanent marina berth to enjoy everything the club has to offer.
With a MacGregor, you have the freedom to explore. With MYCBC, you have a community of fellow boaters ready to share the experience.
For more information about membership and its benefits, visit our Why Join MYCBC? page.
Annual MYCBC membership is currently $65 for the first year, consisting of $35 annual dues and a one-time $30 initiation fee, which includes a club burgee. Subsequent annual membership dues are currently $35.
Membership provides full access to the members-only areas of our website and the opportunity to participate in club activities, cruises, meetings and educational programs.
If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to watch our video, Come Sail With Us, and get a taste of what MYCBC is all about.
Note: Some event dates shown in the video have changed, but the activities and events are still part of our club.
The MacGregor Yacht Club of British Columbia
A Different Kind of Yacht Club
No Marina. No Clubhouse. No Big Fees. No Problem!
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Come experience the fun.
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Come experience the adventure.
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Come experience the freedom of trailerable sailing.
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Come explore new destinations.
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Come make new friendships and lifelong memories.
Come Sail With Us!
