Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 5

YACHT CLUB PROFILE

Alexandra
Yacht Club
Western sky pink glow of AYC harbour.

Story | Katherine Stone

I

n the early 1800s before the Toronto Islands existed,
this same location consisted of a long peninsula that
extended from the foot of the present-day Woodbine
Avenue. The peninsula was built of sand carried all the way from
the Scarborough Bluffs by the wave action. The area was a
primeval forest with crystal clean rivers that teemed with fish.
The eastern part of the peninsula consisted of an eight square
kilometer marsh which ran from the mouth of the Don River to
what we now know as the foot of Leslie Street.
A winter storm in 1858 erased the peninsula by creating a
channel now referred to as the Eastern Gap and a series of
lagoons and inlets now called to as the Toronto Islands. The
eastern end of the sandbar became Fisherman's Island and was
a paradise for whitefish, herring and salmon fishing. There were
also Sturgeon in abundance, big enough to sink a boat.
Fishermen's huts dotted the area and were often demolished by
the wild waves of Lake Ontario. All the land north of Front
Street, west of Jarvis and south of King and east to Church was
declared Market Block, where the fishermen sold their catch.
Once home to a thriving fishing community, Fisherman's
Island - its name and place - have vanished from the Toronto
landscape. You will be hard pressed to find out where this mysterious island once was. Although the name was lost, the sands
still remain as Toronto's Cherry Beach.
In 1906 a group of interested boaters approached the
Assessment Commissioner for a site to be used for boating. For a
rental of $20/year the narrow sandbar running south from Cherry
Street to the east end of Toronto Bay, Fisherman's Wharf,

Fisherman's Island was granted to Alexandra Yacht Club, named
after the consort of King Edward VII. (One wonders if the Queen
ever knew about this tiny boating club in far off Canada).
Although the City Property committee chairman stated, "I
am not prepared to recommend that any control of the water be
given to the club, although I think that they should be allowed
to moor their boats in front of the clubhouse providing this does
not interfere with other interests." The boaters got right to work
and the two-storey clubhouse was built with the lower level
used for boat storage. There were two ramps leading to the
water's edge and a balcony at the front, facing west, which pro-

The pileup of ice was too much for the pilings which
collapsed and sent the clubhouse into the lake and damaged
many members boats in 1919.

www.canadianyachting.ca

5



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Canadian Yachting October 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting October 2019

At the Helm: A Fresh Approach to the Future
Yacht Club: Alexandra Yacht Club
Travel Destination: Kingston, Ontario. Heritage & Hip
Sail Review: J99
Power Review: Cruisers Yachts 38 GLS
The Port Hole: October 2019
Power Review: Pursuit DC 235
DIY/Tech: Your Compass Deserves Care
Crossing the Line: Disciples of the Multimeter
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: Charter Handbook
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - Intro
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - Cover1
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - Cover2
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - At the Helm: A Fresh Approach to the Future
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 4
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - Yacht Club: Alexandra Yacht Club
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 6
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 7
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 8
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 9
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - Travel Destination: Kingston, Ontario. Heritage & Hip
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 11
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 12
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 13
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 14
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 15
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - Sail Review: J99
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 17
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 18
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 19
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 20
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 21
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - Power Review: Cruisers Yachts 38 GLS
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 23
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 24
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 25
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 26
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - The Port Hole: October 2019
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 28
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 29
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 30
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 31
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 32
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 33
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 34
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 35
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 36
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 37
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 38
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 39
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 40
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 41
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 42
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - Power Review: Pursuit DC 235
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 44
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 45
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 46
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 47
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 48
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 49
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - DIY/Tech: Your Compass Deserves Care
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 51
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 52
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 53
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 54
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 55
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 56
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 57
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 58
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 59
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 60
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 61
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - Crossing the Line: Disciples of the Multimeter
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 63
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 64
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: Charter Handbook
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 66
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 67
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 68
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 69
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 70
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 71
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 72
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 73
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 74
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 75
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 76
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 77
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - 78
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - Cover3
Canadian Yachting October 2019 - Cover4
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