INTRODUCTION

This is the continuing story of Avocet, a 1979 Chrysler 26 sailboat we purchased in August 2000. Gregg & Margaret are the third owners of Avocet and we sail out of the Regina Beach Yacht Club. The Regina Beach Yacht Club is located on the shores of Last Mountain Lake in the town of Regina Beach, about 65 kilometres (40 miles) northwest of Regina, Saskatchewan. Incorporated in 1913 the Regina Beach Yacht Club (RBYC) is one of the oldest Yacht Clubs between Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia. Last Mountain Lake, or Long Lake as is it known locally, provides approximately 75 kilometres (45 miles) of boating and fishing pleasure.

Saskatchewan is undeniably a landlocked province, separated from the nearest coastline by hundreds of kilometres. But surprisingly, it still has a rich heritage of sailing, stretching back well over 200 years. Saskatchewan's sailing history has been written up in a book by Terry Pugh called "Prevailing Westerlies - A History of Sailing in Saskatchewan" published by the Saskatchewan Sailing Clubs Association, 1999.

The story of Avocet started out originally as an edited collection of e-mails with the previous owner Al McMillan and has evolved into what you see here. At one time I read "If you are lucky, you have a feeling of stewardship for your boat. She is a living thing that has been entrusted to your care, and if you care for her, she will care for you." It is in that spirit this material is written.