The 2015 Boat & Sportsman Show attracted close to 2000 delegates and  the bar was raised again! Taking care of the Scrub Captain booth was TV celebrity, Jillian Harris, who has past connections to Extreme Makeover Home Edition & Bachelorette! Jillian and her Boxer pup Nacho Cilantro, were making everone feel very welcome to her partner Justin’s new mobile boat cleaning and detailing business!  

There were 2 Boat Races , one was the “Tunnel Speed Boat” at 100kms and the the McLellan F1 at 140kms with 60kms hairpin turns around the corners! The McLellan F1 is comprised of an extremely dedicated group of volunteers that are not just dedicated to boat racing, but the community they are from, and the sponsors that they represent. Follow driver, Mike McLellan, crew chief Andrew Forbes and the whole team all season long as MIke takes on his second Formula 1 season.

The McLellan F1 is Western Canada’s top Formula1 Racing Team.Updates from all over the continent! Community events, sponsor displays, test sessions, and especially race weekends will be on their McLellan F1 Website.

Absolute Classic Marine brought their infamous “Diddit” boat to show off to admiring visitors. This boat as are all their boats, is impeccably detailed and refinished. Absolute Classic Marine provides neo classic boats from European and North American builders. All boats sold by ACM are either classically styled or involve some form of wood detailing, are limited production or custom ordered – basically designs that set them apart from the sea of white that dominates our lakes. They pride themselves in their great selection of Classics from the 20’s to the 60’s of all makes and sizes.

Dream Party Productions and Face-painting were two of many events on the kids agenda and the ever popular Disney Princesses put on a party mood with the children and were in the audience grabbing photos with kids whenever possible!

We had over 36 vendors this year including some new water and outdoor & sporting goods companies to fit with our “Sportsman” theme. Our key volunteer organizers for the 2015 Boat Show were Chair: Rob Mathews; Staff Captain: Karol King and Publicity: Chris Grotterod with close to a record 95 volunteer members plus the cheerful and hardworking VYC’s Staff helping them!  Without the dedication of these individuals, our events would not be possible!  Thank you to our amazing Vernon Community for coming out and supporting our 2015 Boat and Sportsman Show! See you next year!
More photos and stories on facebook and twitter

The Vernon Yacht Club is thrilled to invite our comunity to come down to what
will be a terrific Boat and Sportsman Show May 2nd and 3rd! With the added Sportsman’s content we expect that something for every interest in the outdoors will be present for your viewing pleasure!

From demonstration paddle boards from Kalaivida Surf Shop and kayaks to NOSA sail boats and model radio operated boats through to the fastest F1 through hull tunnel racing boat in British Columbia (140 MPH!!!) along side some wonderful custom restored cars. For one of our Fast Boat Featured Displays Chris & Buss Roddis are showing us this 25ft Couger 25MTR:

Other displays and live rescues by Search and Rescue will feature water rescue and helicopter line rescue demonstrations if weather and permits allow, plus the new RCMP boat and Royal Marines featured search and safety boat are on display. Motorcycle custom bike builders, quads, and small water craft will be featured along side some of the nicest recreation power boats made on water and on land. VYC members again this year offer free sail boat rides (sign up at the VYC tent to reserve a sail) as great food in our club house.

Dream Party Production’s characters from “FROZEN” will be on site on Sunday from 10:00 AM till 2:00 PM and you can have a free picture taken with them courtesy of Vernon Telescope! Free face painting for the children (and willing adults….) is on both days with Trina and her wonderful helpers. Please join us in supporting the Salvation Army Food bank with an entry donation at the gate as we step forward to help those in need while we enjoy a great spring weekend of fun in the sun on the water!

Rob Mathews
Boat Show Chair – 2015 VYC Boat & Sportsman’s Show.
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The Vernon Yacht Club has a few people to thank for the photos that make up this website and the ones that keep up with the stories on Facebook and twitter. First of all our past member, Hanny Kooyman contributed many photos over the years some of which are featured background images for this site. Hanny was the editor of the VYC Tiller Topics publication for years and her photos can be found in those publications, on the website’s Boating and Membership pages and in some of the Facebook albums. Here is one:

Vernon Yacht Club Marina by Hanny Kooyman

Dagmar Mrazek recently sent us some photos to be used on website and is the photographer of the About Page, the Sailing Page, the News Page and the Contact page photos.  Here is one of Dagmar’s photos:

Photo Credit: Dagmar Mrazek

We did a VYC Photo Competition for the Home page Photo of this website. Eleven photos were submitted and Robb Brown was the Grand Winner! Here is the winning photo:

Night Time Panorama of the VYC Marina by Robb Brown

The latest photos were taken last weekend at our 25th Annual Boat Show by our PR Director Debbra Butler. Here is one of the favourites from the Facebook Album>

Dream Party Production’s Pirate Jack and Mermaid Arial with Rob Mathews and Al Cuttriss

Arial from Dream Party Productions

There is fun planned for all ages and abilities at this year’s Boat & Leisure Show starting with Captain Jack Sparrow & Ariel the Mermaid of Dream Party Productions> making fun happen with Balloon Twisting from 2pm to 4pm each day and a Free Face Painting team to make you into any character, even a Pirate…aaarrrgh!!  For the whole family there is a Fishing Derby organized on “A” Dock from 1pm until 3pm both Saturday and Sunday (weather dependent) and Sail Boat rides through our first come first served sign-up booth! Other family fun is the Remote Control Boat demonstrations and interactive Display Booths that let you try out Sporting Goods, Kayaks, Boating Fashions and Gear.

107.5 KissFM Vernon’s Best Music!

Radio Kiss FM 107.5> will be remote on Saturday with the infamous Frank Martina broadcasting on site for Sunday! There will be many announcements for Prize Draws during the show and a Grand Prize draw for a Vernon Yacht Club Associate Membership on Sunday! You won’t go hungry with lots of Boat Burgers and Sea Dogs grilled and ready for the crowds on both days!

Photo Credit -Dockside Marine

This year’s Boat Show has grown with over 30 Vendors>  bringing everything from Telescopes and Outdoor Gear to some of the Best Boats on the Market! A new booth up from Kelowna this year is the Disabled Sailing Association> featuring their very successful Sailing Program at the Kelowna Yacht Club. Their programs include sailing for the fun of it, Sail Canada certification and for the more adventurous they offer the opportunity to learn to race and compete along with the Kelowna Yacht Club racing fleet! On Sunday there will be a celebration for the new “Heaven Can Wait” Boat with Sea-Dog Boat Sales> presenting the new keys.

Link to the Vernon Boat & Leisure Show Page here>

Vernon Yacht Club Boat Show Vendors

The Vernon Yacht Club’s Annual Boat & Leisure Show> has been in the planning stages for well over 6 weeks with Boat Show Chair, Rob Mathews> contacting partners for this year’s theme (announcement soon) and his trip to the Vancouver Boat Show where he met many fantastic folks ready to come to Vernon to show us their latest and best gear. We will be featuring our activities, partners and vendors on our website leading up to the Boat Show so check back soon!  If you are interested in more information visit the Annual Boat Show Page> 

2013 VYC Boat Show Pin Up Girls

Last year’s Boat and Leisure Show featured the famous Pin Up Girls grabbing every opportunity to pose with Boats, Members and Guest or just pose…  bringing lots of pizazz and fun to the show! We promise another exciting event this year and would like to remind everyone that this is a Vernon Yacht Club Open House Event and you, your family and friends are all welcome to come by. Our theme this year includes the whole family so bring your kids and prepare for fun!

The OQLS Heaven Can Wait Boat

The Okanagan Quality Life Society’s Heaven Can Wait Boat will be taking people out on Okanagan Lake during the VYC Boat Show and there is a special celebration planned for Heaven Can Wait at the event. Last Year’s Morning Star Article> describes the care people have for Heaven Can Wait the best: “In 2013 more than 100 VYC and OQLS members and friends came out June 21 to generously support the program to purchase a new pontoon boat to replace the ageing Heaven Can Wait, which has served so faithfully since 1992. An absolutely outstanding success, the event raised close to $8,000.” The Vernon Yacht Club is continuing the tradition of  respect and care for the Okanagan Quality Life Society’s Heaven Can Wait Boat and we look forward to sharing this with you! You can also see regular updates by “liking” the Vernon Yacht Club Facebook> Page or following us on Twitter>!