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Royal Victoria Yacht Club Deception ClassDesigned in 1983 by Guy Tyrwhitt-Drake Andrew McBride helped with laying out the plans, etc. The design is a composite of the underbody, keel and rudder of Liberty (a 12-metre which lost to Australia 2), the stern of Azzura, an Italian 12-metre, and the hull and lines from a 6-metre. People got together to put into action the building of a fleet. First they built a plug and took a mould from the plug. The people were: Guy Tyrwhitt-Drake Gerry Porter launched the first Deception in 1984. She had a black hull. Gerry sailed her by himself once and later sold her to Dave Cook in 1985. Those two were going into a venture of making Deceptions and renting them at Oak Bay Marina where they could be sailed, but Oak Bay Marina did not go for it. That Deception was sold again and went to Friday Harbor, WA. Andrew McBride launched CAN 1, Pretty Baby in late 1985. She was painted maroon. Lyle Hayden launched CAN 2, Deception in 1986. The hull was painted silver. Peter Kleyn launched CAN 4 in 1986. He sailed her for a few years and sold her to Fred Schemitsch who named her Canada 1. Fred later renamed her Freedom. Gerry Porter bought Freedom in the fall of 1997 and renamed her Popeye. Rod McBride started building a Deception but decided to sail club boats (Illusions). Bob Davies bought and completed the CAN 8, which he named Top Banana. Bob then sold her to David Scott who painted the hull canary yellow and renamed her Canary. Guy was very slow getting CAN 3 Gosling into the water, so Andrew got onto it and finished it off. The hull was painted blue. Guy then went into partnership with Bob Austin who sailed her for a few years. Bob sold his half share to John Tibbles, (still no Guy) who renamed her Blue Jay Rocky Rochfort, Roy Barber, and Mike Fraser bought a CAN 11 Valiant from Rick McBride. She was painted white. Later Roy sold his one-third share to Joanne Buck and Mike sold his one-third share to Geoff Buck. In 1997 Joanne sold her share to Geoff. John Graham and George Cesarec never did start a boat. Harry Torno built CAN 5 Piccolo and started sailing in the fall of 1987. She was painted light cream. Peter Kleyn started building another CAN 93 Pinky in 1993, and sold her to Michael Woodward who renamed her Gretel. Dick and Dianne Payne bought her in summer 1996 and renamed her Moggy. Jim Williams built CAN9 Delusion in 1993 and started sailing her in fall of 1993. She is painted white and blue. Fred Schemitsch had John Booth build CAN 40 Freedom, which was launched in December 1997. Don Brady had John Booth build CAN 50 Laurel, which was launched in 1999. Gordon Wilkinson bought her from Don in May 2004 and renamed her Veracity. As of fall 1999 we had 11 Deceptions in the fleet . As of 2004 the Seattle Yacht Club now has 21 Deception Class boats and that fleet is the largest one-design fleet in that club with many very prominent members sharing ownership. Members include Past Commodores, people who own large race boats such as a Santa Cruz 52 and a 68 foot Nelson Mereck. The late Kelly O'Neill also owned a Deception. Illusion ClassIn 1985 John Newton bought a business with several Illusion
class Mini-12’s as stock. He offered them to Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, which
declined. He then offered them to Royal Victoria Yacht Club, which first turned
down the offer but later decided to take him up on it.
John Newton donated the first six boats of the Illusion Fleet to the club.
A group from the club went to Vancouver with a truck and returned
with the 6 Illusions: In 1986 one Illusion was tested for buoyancy and stability. It remained afloat when filled with water including the two side tanks. In 1987 six more Illusions were available and John Newton
donated two more to the club: The other four were purchased by private owners: John Newton donated one more Illusion he found in Calgary
and had it shipped out: Mike Fraser sold KC 107 in 1988 to people outside the club who renamed her Passing Wind. In 1989 Mini-12’ers and friends donated KC 4 World Peace to the club as a memorial to Jim Davis. This brought the Illusion fleet to 10 club boats and 3 private boats. Someone in the state of Washington contacted the Fleet Executive Committee in 1997 about an Illusion for sale. Chris Dodd purchased this boat, christened her CAN20 Nauti 1, and started racing her in September 1997. Fleet size has grown to 10 club and 4 private Illusions. In the summer of 1998, Hugh Carroll purchased KC 107 from people at Shawnigan Lake, had her hull repainted red and renamed her Passing Wind/Breeze/Gas?. Now we had 10 club and 5 private Illusions. Summary: - In 1987 there were thirteen Illusions in the fleet, of which nine were club boats donated by John Newton. In 1988 one private boat was sold away from the fleet, reducing the fleet to 9 club and 3 private boats. In 1986 we added one club boat to have 10 club and 3 private boats. In 1997 we added one private boat for a total of 10 club and 4 private boats. In 1998 we again added one private boat and have a total of 10 club and 5 private Illusions in the fleet. Fleet Organization History1985/86 SeasonThe first executive committee was formed by Wally Roots and Jim Williams in 1985:
First race 19 October 1985 Illusions – 6
boats: Canada 1 – Heart of America Series – 23 November 1985. When the crew of Canada 1 were in town they were invited to come and sail the Illusions boats, which they did. 1986/87 Season
First Annual General Meeting held 10 September 1986. Deceptions started racing. The start of the Inter-Club racing with Royal Vancouver Yacht Club 19887/88 Season
Annual General Meeting held 8 October 1987. Inter-Club RVicYC @ RVanYC 9-10 April 1988 Won by RVicYC Learning of 7 more Illusions in Vancouver, a group from the club went to Vancouver with a rented truck and returned with 6 boats. The seventh boat was not an Illusion. John Newton later shipped another Illusion from Calgary to the club. John Newton donated three boats to the club. Jill Robertson won the Jo McBride Trophy regatta, held 26/27 March 1988. 1988/89 Season
Annual General Meeting held 29 September 1988. Inter-Club RVanYC @ RVicYC Won by RVanYC Stephanie Bacon won the Jo McBride Trophy regatta, held 18/19 March 1989. |