News

Please join us for some upcoming events at the club.

SEPTEMBER 13 BBQ 

Our next official BBQ is Sunday September 13 at 4 pm. There will be dinner and good conversation. 

But we need volunteers! Please contact partyrat@waterrats.ca if you can help with this event.

WATER CATS FALL REGATTA: SEPTEMBER 19-20

This year is going to be big! With running water on the property, we are also hosting a gourmet breakfast both days and a gourmet dinner on Saturday. Please get your tickets here!

To help things run smoothly and keep our organizers and participants on track, we kindly ask that the club premises and BBQ areas be left clear for the event. Thank you so much for your understanding and for helping us host a great regatta!

We are looking for volunteers to help with the following jobs:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

• Pick up medals from Agincourt Trophy & Gifts at 727 Progress Ave in Scarborough

• Buy gas and leave on the deck (we will  provide empty cans) - 3 gas cans, 5 gallons each

• Check all 3 barbecues shortly before September 19 and ensure there is enough gas for Saturday, September 19. Refill/exchange cylinders if necessary

• Help with cooking and serving gourmet breakfast for 07:30 - 09:00 on Saturday

• Help with gourmet dinner on Saturday for 12:00 (Noon) - 16:30

• On the water: setting the windward mark on Saturday - help Kevin Smith in a support boat 10:30 - 15:00

• On the water: support boat driver and assistant on Saturday (looking for a team of two)

• Setting the start line (pin) and downwind mark on Saturday: help Murray Kibler in a support boat 10:30 - 15:00

 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

• Help with cooking and serving gourmet breakfast for 07:30 - 09:00 on Sunday

• On the water: setting the windward mark on Sunday (looking for a team of two)  9:30 - 15:00

• On the water: support boat driver and assistant on Sunday (looking for a team of two)  9:30 - 15:00

• On the water: setting the start line (pin) and downwind mark on Sunday (looking for a team of two)  9:30 - 15:00

• On the water: help the Race Officer Robert McGroarty with flags and results on the Committee boat (looking for a team of two) 9:30 - 15:00

Please contact: Beata Sejane at bgintere@gmail.com or (416) 886-7277 (text or WhatsApp)

DON’T FORGET…
Submit your volunteer hours on our website.

MISSING A NEWSLETTER?
Visit our website to get caught up onclub news. 

WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT CLUB EVENTS?
View our calendar here. 

Summer is almost over. But there is some good boating left on the schedule!

WE HAVE WATER!

The Water System Project approved at the April members' special meeting is now operational.

A very special thanks to Barna Moricz and Rob McGroarty for doing an incredible job at running the project and for doing the bulk of the hands-on work. 

And the project would not have been initiated had it not been for Bruce Hanson putting together the original plan and estimate that was presented at the April meeting.

*Please note the water is not tested and is therefore not for drinking.  It is suitable for washing hands and washing dishes.

SEPTEMBER BBQ 

Our next official BBQ is Sunday September 13 at 4 pm. Join us for dinner and good conversation. We need volunteers! Please contact partyrat@waterrats.ca if you can help with this event.

CAT SAILERS

Don’t forget to register for our fall regatta coming up on September 19! If you’re available that weekend to help out please contact bgintere@gmail.com.

VOLUNTEER JOB

We are having issues with one of our BBQs. If you are handy and want to fill in your volunteer hours for the season please contact paperrat@waterrats.ca for details!

DON’T FORGET…
Submit your volunteer hours on our website.

MISSING A NEWSLETTER?
Visit our website to get caught up on club news. 

WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT CLUB EVENTS?
View our calendar here.

The weather has been glorious and there’s lots of opportunities to get out on the water. Come down to the club and participate before the summer is over!

AUGUST BBQ 
Our next official BBQ is Tuesday August 11 at 7 pm. Join us for dinner and good conversation. Please contact walburga.groetzinger@yahoo.com if you can help with this event.

LOCK MAINTENANCE
Please do not put WD40 in our locks as it contains a solvent which damages the mechanism. Please let Scott Gray or Robert McGroaty know if the locks need lubricating. Or send webrat@waterrats.ca an email and we’ll get the word out.

SEND IN YOUR PHOTO
As per a change to our membership rules, all members are being asked to submit a photo of their boat on the water each season. We have updated the tool to make it easier to submit your photo. If you’ve tried once already, please give it another try. Find the instructions here.

CAT SAILERS
JTown is holding a practice race session on Sunday August 9 at 3 pm for sailors from all neighbouring clubs. Drop ins are welcome.

And don’t forget to register for our fall regatta coming up on September 19! If you’re available that weekend, we’ll be putting out a call for volunteers soon!

DON’T FORGET…
Submit your volunteer hours on our website.

MISSING A NEWSLETTER?
Visit our website to get caught up on club news. 

WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT CLUB EVENTS?
View our calendar here. 

The weather has been glorious and there’s lots of opportunities to get out on the water. Come down to the club and participate!

BBQ ON JULY 

Our next official BBQ is Tuesday July 21 at 7 pm. Join us for dinner and good conversation. Please contact partyrat@waterrats.ca if you can help with this event.

HELP CLEAN UP OUR GROUNDS

Our grounds team has scheduled some sessions for the following dates:
Thursday July 16 9 am - 11 am
Saturday July 25 10 am - noon

We will be removing invasive plants from the grounds, cleaning up the beach and trimming the bushes back. Please wear long sleeves and pants. Bring a hat, work gloves and some water. If you have a hand clipper/garden knife/spade those items would be useful as well. 

If you can’t come for those dates, beach cleanup can happen any time and our team would be happy to point you in the direction of where to find our invasive plants. Please contact our groundsrat@waterrats.ca and we can put you in touch.

OUR CLUB IS HOSTING THE COMMUNITY JUNIOR SAILING PROGRAM THIS SUMMER

Water Rats Sailing will be expanding our partnering this year with the Community Junior Sailing Program. They will be using the west swim beach, the clubhouse and deck during their summer sailing program. The camp is in need of more shelter on those days that are too windy to sail, on very hot days or rainy days to play games and eat lunch. A protocol is in place for the leaders to follow and a fridge has been labelled for their use. 

The Community Sailing Program is supported by all the Clubs of the OHSF and we are happy to share our space during the daytime with this excellent program. It is part of our lease requirement to support this Community Sailing Program. Please make them feel welcome.

SEND IN YOUR PHOTO

As per a change to our membership rules, all members are being asked to submit a photo of their boat on the water each season. We have updated the tool to make it easier to submit your photo. If you’ve tried once already, please give it another try. Find the instructions here.

CAT SAILORS

Westwood is holding a practice race session on Sunday July 26 at 3 pm for sailors from all neighbouring clubs. Drop ins are welcome.

DON’T FORGET…
Submit your volunteer hours on our website.

MISSING A NEWSLETTER?
Visit our website to get caught up onclub news. 

WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT CLUB EVENTS?
View our calendar here.

Summer is (almost) here and members are back out and finally on the water. Not only that, but the city has paved the miserable Unwin Avenue, so there’s no excuse. Come down to the club!

BBQ ON JUNE 30
We’re holding our first official BBQ on Tuesday June 30 at 7 pm. Join us for dinner and good conversation. Please contact partyrat@waterrats.ca if you can help with this event.

CAUTION AROUND THE CLUBHOUSE
We have begun work on our water project. There is currently an open pit next to the clubhouse which will hold the wastewater containers. Please be careful until the hole is filled in again.

FIRE ANT SPRAYING 
Our second fire ant spraying is scheduled for Tuesday June 30. There will be no access to the club property until noon that day. Please plan accordingly. If you spot an area that needs attention please let our groundsrat@waterrats.ca know.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We need volunteers to clean up the BBQ’s and the clubhouse. Please get in touch with webrat@waterrats.ca and get your volunteer hours out of the way for the rest of the season!

DON’T FORGET TO SEND IN YOUR PHOTO
As per a change to our membership rules, all members are being asked to submit a photo of their boat on the water each season. We have updated the tool to make it easier to submit your photo. If you’ve tried once already, please give it another try. Find the instructions here.

CAT SAILORS!
JTown is holding a practice race session on Sunday June 28 at 3 pm for sailors from all neighbouring clubs. Drop ins are welcome.

DON’T FORGET…
Submit your volunteer hours on our website.

MISSING A NEWSLETTER?
Visit our website to get caught up onclub news. 

WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT CLUB EVENTS?
View our calendar here. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We require additional volunteers for the club crawl event and to help clean up the clubhouse after the Regatta on June 6. Please contact partyrat@waterrats.ca if you are available on Saturday.

DON’T FORGET TO SEND IN YOUR PHOTO
As per a change to our membership rules, all members are being asked to submit a photo of their boat on the water each season. Please find the instructions here.

BUY YOUR TICKETS FOR THE CLUB CRAWL 2026
The annual OHSF club crawl returns this Saturday.

Each club will provide food and drink, with live music at some venues.  Each club will compete in events such as three-legged race, balloon toss, corn hole and tug-of-war.  The winning club will be named Club Crawl Champs and have bragging rights for the year.

Proceeds for this event go to the OHSF Kids Camp. Buy advance tickets for $25 or make a donation online on the event page. You can pick up your event wristband at the club from 4:15 to 6:30 by the deck. We will gather there at 4:45 to travel to the first stop together. Please join us. 

There will be very limited tickets available on the day of the event so please purchase in advance.

Wear orange, which will be our club colour!

Note: If you are coming to the club on Saturday please do not park your car in front of or to the west of the clubhouse to accommodate this event. We are expecting quite a crowd.

LASER SAILORS!
Sign up for the Heinz Gebauer Spring WAR Regatta 2026 happening Saturday June 6 and Sunday June 7. Tickets are only $50 and include coffee and snacks during the event. 

CAT SAILORS!
JTown is holding a practice race session on Sunday June 7 at 3 pm for sailors from all neighbouring clubs. Drop ins are welcome.

HARBOUR MEGA-CLEAN
Good news! This event has been rescheduled to Saturday June 13 at 10 am. They will be getting started at the south end of Regatta Road. If you would like to paddle, Don’t Mess With The Don is holding a shore and water based litter removal at the same time.

DON'T FORGET…
Submit your volunteer hours on our website.

MISSING A NEWSLETTER?
Visit our website to get caught up on club news. 

WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT CLUB EVENTS?
View our calendar here.

IMPORTANT: FIRE ANT SPRAYING THIS TUESDAY
Fire ant spraying will occur on May 26 and June 30. The club will be CLOSED until noon on both days.

Please contact groundsrat@waterrats.ca if you have any areas that need attention.

BUY YOUR TICKETS FOR THE CLUB CRAWL 2026
The annual OHSF club crawl is returning on Saturday June 6.

Early bird tickets are now available at $20, the price goes up on Saturday May 30!

Each club will provide food and drink, and live music will be at some venues.  A competition between the clubs will be taking place at each venue such as three-legged race, balloon toss, corn hole, and tug-of-war to name a few.  The winning club will be named Club Crawl Champs and bragging rights for the year.

Proceeds for this event goes to the OHSF Kids Camp.  If you cannot attend the event, please consider donating online on the event page.

Please wear orange, which will be our club colour!

LASER SAILORS!
Please join us for races on Tuesday nights (rain date is Thursdays) at 6 pm. Beginners are more than welcome. 

And please sign up for the Heinz Gebauer Spring WAR Regatta 2026 happening Saturday June 6 and Sunday June 7. Tickets are only $50 and include coffee and snacks during the event. 

We need a few volunteers to help run the event. Please contact racerat@waterrats.ca if you are available.

CAT SAILORS!
Westwood is holding a practice race session on Sunday May 31 at 3 pm for sailor from all neighbouring clubs. Drop ins are welcome..

HARBOUR MEGA-CLEAN
This event was cancelled this weekend due to poor weather and the new date will likely be June 6th. More details to come. 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Our big wheel cart needs TLC. If you are handy and interested in repairing, sanding and painting please contact paperrat@waterrats.ca for instructions.

DON'T FORGET…
Submit your volunteer hours on our website.

MISSING A NEWSLETTER?
Visit our website to get caught up onclub news. 

WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT CLUB EVENTS?
View our calendar here. 

Fingers crossed that some warmer weather is coming soon, so that we can get out on the water! 

IMPORTANT

Fire ant spraying will occur on May 26 and June 30. The club will be CLOSED until noon on both days.

Please contact groundsrat@waterrats.ca if you have any areas that need attention.

NEXT WEEKEND: FIRST ANNUAL MASTS UP GATHERING

We are planning to have a get-together of catamaran sailors and any members who would like to attend on Saturday May 16 from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

This informal event is a time when we can help each other step out masts and share some information on boat set-up.

Please sign up on our website so that we can get a rough idea of how many hamburgers we should buy for lunch.

COMING UP: SAILORS, REGISTER FOR OUR FIRST REGATTA

The Heinz Grebauer Spring WAR Regatta is the weekend of June 6.

Tickets cost $50 and include coffee and snacks before and after racing. Visit our website to register today.

BUY YOUR TICKETS FOR THE CLUB CRAWL 2026

This fun event for everyone is also happening on June 6. Early bird tickets are now available at $20, the price goes up on May 30!

Each club will provide food and drink, and live music will be at some venues.  A competition between the clubs will be taking place at each venue such as three-legged race, balloon toss, corn hole, and tug-of-war to name a few.  The winning club will be named Club Crawl Champs and have bragging rights for the year.

Proceeds for this event goes to the OHSF Kids Camp.  If you cannot attend the event, please consider donating online on the event page.

Please wear orange, which will be our club colour!

TAKE PART IN THE TNS/DMWTD MEGA CLEAN

Toronto Nature Stewards at Cherry Beach is having a Mega Clean event on Saturday May 23, 10am - noon to remove litter from shoreline and park areas. Please join them at 2 Regatta Road on the south end.

Don’t Mess With The Don (DMWTD) will also be doing near shore and water based litter removal. Paddlers can meet them at their paddling hub with your own boat at 10am or just a bit earlier.

Cherry Beach Nature Stewards host regular cleanings Wednesday and Saturday mornings 9 to 11:30 am from April thru early November and on Mondays 6 - 8 pm in the summer (except holiday weekends). 

SPECIAL AGM: This Saturday at 1 pm

The Water Rat Sailing Club will be holding a special meeting on Saturday, April 25 at the Water Rat Clubhouse at 1 pm. Please attend to have your say. Note that we need to reach quorum in order to move forward with this project.

Agenda for Meeting:

1.  Discuss and hold members vote on proposal for running water and grey water capture.  The Board is requesting approval of up to $14,000 for the project.

2.  Brief review of new membership rules.

3.  Member Q&A.

If you cannot attend the meeting but would still like to vote, please download and fill out the proxy form.

SPRING CLEAN UP: Rain date move to Sunday at 9 am

Because of poor weather our spring clean up is moving to this Sunday (April 26) at 9 am. Please bring a rake and gloves and check at the clubhouse for priority tasks.

DON’T FORGET…
Submit your volunteer hours on our website.

MISSING A NEWSLETTER?
Visit our website to get caught up on club news. 

WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT CLUB EVENTS?
View our calendar here. 

SPECIAL AGM MEETING

As noted in the most recent newsletter, The Water Rat Sailing Club will be holding a special meeting on Saturday, April 25 at the Water Rat Clubhouse.  This meeting will take place even if the clean-up day is rescheduled due to weather. Please attend to have your say. Note that we need to reach quorum in order to move forward with this project.

Agenda for Meeting:

1.  Discuss and hold members vote on proposal for running water and grey water capture.  The Board is requesting approval of up to $14,000 for the project.

2.  Brief review of new membership rules.

3.  Member Q&A.

If you cannot attend the meeting but would still like to vote, please download and fill out the proxy form.

DON’T FORGET…
Submit your volunteer hours on our website.

MISSING A NEWSLETTER?
Visit our website to get caught up on club news. 

WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT CLUB EVENTS?
View our calendar here.