Our Story

The Lower Mainland Yacht Cooperative (LMYC) is a cooperative owned and operated by its members. We are a composite of like-minded people ranging from rookies all the way to “salty dogs” with decades of yachting experience. The mission and purpose of the LMYC is to promote affordable, safe and enjoyable recreational sailing.

As a co-op, it is possible to provide boats, equipment and sailing skills development at a fraction of the cost of any other sailing program you can find. The low cost, however, does require full participation of the members to make it succeed. Yacht sailing is a team sport and everything that goes into keeping a boat sea-worthy is also a team sport. All members are expected to contribute time for boat maintenance and help with other activities toward our common goal.

The LMYC is a provincially registered and regulated non-profit organization and is governed by the British Columbia Co-operative Act.

Our History

May 1976 – The Start Of The Lower Mainland Yacht Co-op

Frankie and I moved to White Rock from Northern B.C. and I fully expected to get an invention I had developed into a position where we could buy a sailboat, but it didn’t turn out that way. Instead I found myself leaning on the rail of the old pier looking at the half dozen sailboats bobbing at the float and wondering how I was ever going to get sailing.

The desire to sail was harbored for over thirty years after I’d served in the Canadian Navy in World War II where I had the good fortune to be chosen as an instructor and got involved in seamanship and sailing. I wondered how many other people wanted to sail, but could not afford to so I called in on a printer friend, Terry Schmidt; because I knew he had sailed in Germany and knew that he, too, wanted to get on the water. We kicked around a few ideas of what kind of organization would be best and placed an ad on then brand new Shaw Cable, announcing a meeting for land-bound sailors. The number of people who turned up overwhelmed us. I remember thinking “Bingo, we’ve struck a nerve!” We took ten dollars from each of fifty people, started looking for a boat and I went to Victoria to register the organization and was steered to the Superintendent of Co-operatives.

We made a deal with a fellow who owned a trailerable McGregor 22, (which we named “Happy Ours”) paid him a few dollars down, gave him a membership as part payment, (he never did sail) went to the bank and borrowed a couple of thousand dollars and, just like today, started looking for a bigger and better boat.

My wife and I were “keeper of the keys” for over 25 years and met every one who ever passed through the club. And we consider it an honour and a pleasure that we were able to do so. But it was the kind of person who was attracted to the club who really made it blossom and grow. I could mention dozens of people who devoted time and energy, as they still do today, and who are responsible for the steady growth and longevity of the organization. I savour the memories of them all and the many years of sailing and comradeship. It is to those pioneers I dedicate this information.

Written in 2006 on the Club’s 30th Anniversary by club founder Art Bates (1929 – 2019)

By 1980 there were 30 members and still only one boat. By 1984 there were 100 members and four boats. Over the years we expanded to 115 sailing members and a fleet of seven sailboats. In 2025, we had six boats and 75 members. Today, after losing a boat after it ran aground, we have five boats and 56 members.