Application for Membership

If you are interested in becoming a member of the GRYC, please read the following summary of information for prospective members and sponsors. The Application Form follows this information.

Information for Prospective Members

Download Information for Applicants (83 KB).

GRYC Mission Statement

The Gatineau River Yacht Club is a family oriented, volunteer driven, cooperative, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to promoting and encouraging active participation in the sport of sailing and other water related recreational activities. All activities at the GRYC shall respect the environment and the ability of the Club’s Islands and the Gatineau River to sustain those activities on a long-term basis.

Admission of Members

Membership is limited to a maximum of 234 adult members.

The Board of Directors will determine the number of vacancies available once the deadline for renewal of existing memberships has passed (normally by June).

The membership waiting list is priorized by date of application as well as the following considerations outlined by Article 3-8 from the GRYC By-Laws:

Other applications will be priorized in the following order:

Adult children of family memberships.

Past members (includes previous child members) whose membership has lapsed (excepting cases in Article 3.7) and reside locally.

Applicants with a sail boat and/or a genuine interest in sailing.

Other applicants.

A ‘genuine interest in sailing’ may include, but is not limited to:

an interest in sailing or learning to sail at the GRYC;
intention to enrol children in the Youth Program and/or to participate individually or as a family in the free Learn to Sail program;
or to participate in the GRYC Sailing program including races, regattas, and casual events, as a sailor, crew, race official, crash boat operator, or other support personnel;
owning a sail boat in good working order that is intended to be sailed at the GRYC.

Benefits of Membership

Benefits of membership at the GRYC include, but are not limited to:

voting rights for Primary and Secondary members at AGMs;
must contribute two full days of service to the Club per annum per member of family over the age of 16;
seasonal access to GRYC Boats, facilities, participation in weekend races, the Annual Regatta, and other great events. Use of Club boats is on a first-come first-served basis. On Sunday mornings, racers have priority to boats. Before using a Club boat, sailors may be asked to demonstrate basic sailing skills.
participation in the free Learn to Sail Program offered to all members. This weekend clinic provides instruction ranging from tying knots to rigging boats, from the basics of sailing to advanced racing techniques.
reduced fees for Youth Program registration. The Youth Program offers CYA accredited sailing instruction for children aged 9-16 in a fun, safe summer day camp atmosphere. For more information visit our website at www.gryc.ca;

Responsibilities of Membership

Care of the islands and Club property.
Compliance with standard safety practices.
Two days of service to the Club per season for each family Member over the age of 16.
Payment in full of all initiation fees, annual dues and other miscellaneous charges.

The GRYC recognizes that family priorities may shift over time. We offer a Retaining Membership to existing members, who for personal, economic or logistical reasons will not be using the Club facilities for a season or more and may pay a reduced fee to prevent his membership from lapsing. Retaining members may resume active membership in a future season, with no restrictions placed by the membership limit without being subject to repayment of initiation fees.

Membership Fees

View the membership and other fees.

Application for Membership

Download the Application Form (83 KB) (right-click to download and save a copy).
Fill it out using Adobe Acrobat then print, or print then fill out by hand.
Adobe Reader is a free download.
Obtain Sponsors' signatures
Send by post to:

   Membership Application
   Gatineau River Yacht Club
   P.O. Box 1766
   Chelsea, QC J9B 1A1
You will be contacted by phone or email when your application is received.

Information for Applicant Sponsors

Download Information for Sponsors (50 KB)

Sponsors for GRYC membership will be asked to sign the following declaration:
"I hereby recommend this applicant (and their family) for membership at the Gatineau River Yacht Club and can attest to their understanding of the volunteer requirements of all members. I do believe this applicant (and their family) will provide a valuable contribution to the spirit of the Club and its activities."

If you agree with this statement, before agreeing to sponsor the applicant, please consider the following:

Responsibilities of Sponsors

can attest that applicant (as a family) has genuine interest in sailing;
A ‘genuine interest in sailing’ may include, but is not limited to:
- an interest in sailing or learning to sail at the GRYC;
- intention to enrol children in the Youth Program and/or to participate individually or as a family in the free Learn to Sail program;
- or to participate in the GRYC Sailing program including races, regattas, and casual events, as a sailor, crew, race official, crash boat operator, or other support personnel;
- owning a sail boat in good working order that is intended to be sailed at the GRYC.
go over membership involvement at the GRYC including Volunteer requirements and participation in Club events;
if your membership at the GRYC lapses, you will assist applicant in obtaining replacement sponsor.

Expectations of Sponsors

once applicant becomes a member, you agree to showing the new member the workings of Club, facilities and programs available to members by, for example, taking new member on a tour of the island and going through the Club calendar.
once applicant becomes a member, you will encourage new member’s participation in Club events and help them discover volunteer opportunities. For example, by:
- inviting the new member to go sailing with you either on a cruise or during a race;
- shadowing you while you participate as a Race Official, Crash Boat Operator, Club Night duties, Facilities projects, Learn to Sail program, etc.;
- introducing new member to Board Members, Volunteer Coordinators, and Club Management.

* Please note that time spent familiarizing new members to the GRYC can be counted towards your volunteer requirements.

If you do not agree with or don’t think you can commit to the responsibilities or expectations of being a sponsor, we recommend that you decline. You also may wish to help applicant find an alternate sponsor.