Celebrating 85 Years of The Shellback Club
“Keel Laid 1934” Celebrating 85 Years
There will be some outdoor adventures and a number of speakers to celebrate the 85th years for the Shellback Club.
Selected speakers will present a wide range of nautical and maritime topics, plus a few activities, during the 24 meetings scheduled for the 2019 season, which also comes loaded with good food and friendly men and women.
The Shellback Club officially started in February 1934 and met at Eileen Bradley’s Tea House on Adelaide Street but had its roots earlier. Starting in 1924, some of the crews of large racing sailboats from the Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) met weekly in the summer to organize crew duties.
By 1934, these crew meetings had morphed into The Shellback Club as other sailors from Clubs in the area liked the idea of sharing lunch and sailing lore…and even singing a shanty.
To be “Shellback” today only requires attending a lunch meeting and joining everyone in singing a sea shanty.
Meetings are posted on the website at shellbacks.weebly.com. You’ll find speakers, history and current updates.
The location, as in past years, is the RCYC at 141 St George Street at Prince Arthur (West exit of the St. George TTC station). The walk-in entrance to the Club is off Prince Arthur. Our sessions are held in the main dining room.
Meetings start promptly at 1215 hours and finish about 1330 – 1345 hours. The guest speaker starts about 1245 hours.
Come early to enjoy the company and a beverage. All the usual beverages are available at Club prices. There are no prearranged tables and dress is mostly smart casual.
Lunch costs this year are $25.00 per person and include all taxes and service. Lunch is 3 courses of soup or salad, a main dish, desert and tea or coffee.
A voluntary $2 for the Dory will get you a ticket to win, if you’re lucky, a nautical book in the weekly book draw. There are no initiation fees, although once a year, the club suggests a $20 contribution to pay for basic communication costs and the minimal costs of operation. Funds not needed each year are donated to local youth sailing charities.
Guests are always welcome. Membership at the RCYC is not necessary and confirmation regarding attendance is not required for Shellbacks or guests. Come when the spirit or the topic moves you but come often!
Meetings continue on Wednesdays Jan 9 until April 17th.
The 85th Shellback year presentations for 2019:
January 9: Ron Jenkins returns to give an update on The Status of Billy Bishop Airport on Toronto Island.
January 16: Engineering Scientist, Marina Friere-Gormaly, will share her expertise in the design of an Automated Solar Powered Water Treatment System that is used in remote communities and can be used by sailors.
January 23: Marlaine Koehler of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust gives an update on The Waterfront Trail. She last spoke seven years ago when the trail was being extended to Lake Erie. Much has developed since then.
January 30: John O’Dwyer, engineer, professor and Irishman extraordinaire, will present A Humourus Romp through Irish History (including St. Brendon’s Sailing to America).
February 6: TBA
February 13: Rob Mazza will review the Inductions into the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame.
February 20: Bob Medland, long-time Shellback, returns to present the tale of Being ‘Holed’ en Route to Bermuda aboard Monterey.
February 27: TBA
The Shellback team is Dianne Leggatt, Skipper, Graham Dougall, Purser & Second Mate, Elspeth Fanjoy, Mate, Ron Jenkins, Webmaster, Philip Morton, Music Director and many others who help throughout the year. Volunteers welcome!
Call or write Dianne Leggatt, Skipper, for any reason at 416 486 6025 or dianne.leggatt@gmail.com