The Oakville Yacht Squadron has had a long standing history with the sea kindly O'Day Tempest. At one time there were 19 on club moorings and they were considered the largest boats in the club. As time passed and the fleet aged gracefully, the number of Tempests dwindled to about six boats. When the Members with out Boats Program was conceived, two of those boats were donated to the program and two were purchased. The Program's intent is to teach the fine art of boat ownership to folks who do not own a boat of their own with the hope that, equipped with the experience, they will go on to purchase their own boats and continue as Full Members of the OYS. History has shown that many have done exactly that.

Welcome side effects of the program were the many willing hands when it came to maintaining the Tempests. Eventually the Tempests were retired one by one and replaced by four of the venerable Shark class boats. In honor of the long history of the many OYS Tempests and their owners, the Members with out Boats Program has become known today as Team Tempest. Year after year it has been described by its Skippers and the best deal on the lake.

An Associate or Full OYS member may apply to become a "Skipper" of one of the 4 club owned Sharks in exchange for a fee and a firm commitment to perform the routine maintenance work. There will be as many as four "Skippers" assigned to each boat after which the program will be deemed to be full and a waiting list will be established by seniority. Only paid up Associate or Full Members will be added to the waiting list. The Team Tempest Fees are currently set at Full Membership plus $200.00 or Associate Membership plus $300.00, both plus GST. A Marine Radio Operator’s License and a Pleasure Craft Operators Card are mandatory requirements.

Some of the routine maintenance work consists of the following: Sand and paint the bottom of the boat prior to launch. Clean and wax the hull prior to launch. Be part of a work party to launch the boats on launch weekend. Be part of a work party to commission the boats and raise the masts after launch. Clean and wax the boat as needed through the season. Maintain the interior of the boat as needed through the season. Ensure that the boat is maintained and equipped in safe sailing condition through the season. Be part of a work party to decommission the boats and lower the masts in the fall prior to haul out. Be part of a work party to on haulout weekend. Be part of a work party to secure the winter covers. Check the winter covers through the winter to be sure they have not come loose.

Each boat is equipped with a Safety Kit and a First Aid Kit and all of the equipment required by law. The OYS Sailing School owns the boats and the prime reason for their existence is for use in the sail training programs that are offered by the School. A schedule will be posted in the boats and the School will spread the teaching among all boats so no one boat in monopolized. The boats are intended for Day Sailing only and the Skippers are encouraged to race on Thursday nights.

While Team Tempest is usually fully booked, you may well find you sailing solution here.

Coordination and communication are always the keys to success for any team and Team Tempest is no exception. Communication has to run full circle, from the Skippers, to the Sailing School Head Instructor, to the Team Tempest Captain and back to the Skippers.

Steve Scott
Team Tempest Captain
416-200-8979
Oysterbay@cogeco.ca