WELCOME TO THE
CANYON LAKE YACHT CLUB
CANYON LAKE, CALIFORNIA
A Little Bit of Paradise!
Canyon Lake Yacht Club consists of 280 (and counting) enthusiastic members who love to enjoy the water. In fact, if there is one thing that ties us all together it is our love of the lake. We enjoy many activities that get us out on the water, as well as some awesome land-borne events that we do as a club.
If you love the lake and would like to hang out with others who love to get out on the water, we'd love to have you join us. No boat required! Check out the pages of this website to get to know us a little better, and then join us via our membership page. We'd like to get to know you and help you make lifelong friends who share the same interests. We invite you to be part of the Canyon Lake Yacht Club and enjoy "a little bit of paradise!"
CLYC Deckhand of the Month!
Aye, Aye Mates!!!! Anchors aweigh…All hands-on deck!
When our Commodore, Rob Mora, took over the helm in January, he told us to get our sea legs ready as he began to navigate us in the direction that our prior Commodore saw on the horizon. As we set sail, he battened down the hatches and began to focus on a better way to navigate our deckhands through a website that could not only host activities and other announcements, but also provide additional features that would make it easier to safely sail the following seas [lake] for the upcoming year. Although we were pretty even keeled, we needed to make sure we were squared-riffed and squared away and wanted to have, among other things, our activities highlighted, announce volunteer opportunities, advertise, and sell our merchandise and collect dues in one convenient location.
So mates, do NOT be caught dead in the water over the next year! As we cast off, look for opportunities as to how you can be our Deckhand of the Month! The Canyon Lake Yacht Club will be on the crow’s nest looking for that deck hand that goes the extra mile and guides us towards our destination. We have our map above but are always open to veering new courses too! Feel the talk of the boat and set your destination(s) and let us showcase you….
CLYC March 2025
Deckhands of the Month!
ALL HANDS-ON DECK!!!!!!
We are excited to share the next CLYC Deckhands of the Month!
Dave Deboe and Judy Miller
Ahoy Canyon Lake Yacht Club!
We are thrilled to introduce our March Deckhands of the Month: Dave Deboe and Judy Miller—two remarkable individuals whose shared passions for boating, community, and connection have made them true treasures in our club.
Dave and Judy first met at Hennessey’s Tavern, a beloved Redondo Beach landmark. That meeting marked the beginning of a lasting journey together, one filled with adventures by land and sea, and a mutual appreciation for boats, cars, and travel. Though their roots stretch across the country, they’ve built a life that sails effortlessly between destinations—always anchored by their love for each other and their enjoyment of sharing a good glass of wine with friends, whether by the lake, on the dock, or aboard their boat wherever it may be.
Despite all they’ve accomplished and the experiences they’ve gathered, Dave and Judy are two of the most humble and unassuming individuals you could ever hope to meet. Their warmth, kindness, and generosity of spirit make them a joy to be around—and a true asset to the Yacht Club family.
Dave first discovered Canyon Lake in 1975, thanks to a friend’s invitation. It only took one visit for him to know he’d found something special. Though he initially co-owned a weekend property while still working full-time, in 1998, he purchased his dream home—a piece of Canyon Lake history as one of the first three homes ever built—located right next to Roadrunner Park.
Originally from Bristol, Rhode Island, Dave served in the U.S. Air Force before pursuing a law degree at Santa Clara University, where he graduated at the top of his class. He went on to lead as Director of Contracts at Northrop Grumman, contributing over 25 years to the cutting edge of satellite exploration and development. His passion for boating and classic cars continues to shine through, as does his dedication to our community. He has served as President of the Ski Club and is a proud member of the Yacht Club, Car Club, and The Guild.
Judy, a Southern California native, studied at UCLA, earning her RN and eventually going on to both teach and practice nursing before retiring. These days, when she’s not enjoying all that Canyon Lake has to offer, she and Dave are traveling the world—so far, their favorite trip has been a breathtaking cruise through Patagonia to Tahiti.
Recently, Dave and Judy hosted fellow CLYC members at King Harbor Yacht Club in Redondo Beach, where they are also members. After a scenic boat cruise along the coast, the group gathered for an evening of food, drinks, and friendship. With perfect weather and unforgettable company, it was a day that beautifully reflected Dave and Judy’s warm, generous spirit.
The Canyon Lake Yacht Club is incredibly lucky to count Dave and Judy not just as members, but as true ambassadors of the fun, connection, and camaraderie that define our community. Fair winds and following seas, Dave and Judy—and congratulations!
Sailor Six Questions & Answers
Q: How long have you lived in Canyon Lake?
A: 50 years.
Q: How long have you been a member of the CL Yacht Club?
A: 10 years.
Q: If you were stranded on an island, where would want to be?
A: Catalina.
Q: What YC event do you look forward to the most?
A: Commodore's Ball.
Q: Favorite water activity?
A: Yachting with friends.
Q: Does your boat have a name? If not, would you call it?
A: Benny (short for Bennington).
Who will be our CLYC April Deckhand of the Month? Rumors have it that sailors tend to be predominantly realistic individuals, so we are looking for our sailor(s) that have contributed to the club by working outdoors and/or applying themselves to a hands-on project. Check out our website and see how this can be YOU!
SEE PAST DECKHANDS OF THE MONTH HERE!
First International Burgee Exchange - Thousand Islands Yacht Club,
Ontario Canada
June 19, 2024 - Cathy and Dan Lekawa are happy to deliver the first international burgee to the CLYC. It is from the Thousand Islands Yacht Club (TIYC) in Ontario, Canada. Thousand Islands is an archipelago of over 1,800 islands in the St. Lawrence River as it emerges into the Northeast corner of Lake Erie. It is also the home of Thousand Island dressing and contains one of Canada's oldest National Parks!
This burgee comes from a club with a kindred spirit to ours and an interesting story. We extracted this history from their website:
The TIYC came about as the result of a conversation in which one of a small group of boaters at a 1,000 Islands dock said he wished there was a way to get accommodation at various yacht clubs around Lake Ontario. He'd been turned away because he had no yacht club affiliation, or had to pay at others for a one-night stay.
Somebody mentioned the obvious: Why not form a yacht club? This group included no financiers or captains of industry. Among the lot, meeting the annual gas and booze bills and summer dockage was regarded as a feat of financial legerdemain.
The vision of a "yacht club" as exemplified by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club was so far from the realm of possibility among these short arms and deep pockets, it was beyond imagination...but not beyond the kind of ridicule stimulated by an early cocktail hour, boozy barbecue, after-dinner drinks and a full moon shining operation on Mermaid Island.
"We could just call ourselves a yacht club," one dogged dreamer persisted. "That's no good," was the retort. "You've gotta be RECOGNIZED." "How do you get recognized?"
....And so, on it went, and answers became as intangible as a Scotch mist. It was decided to ask the director of the Canadian Yacht Club Association (CYCA), Geoff Wheatley, on Monday (and somebody actually remembered!) Mr. Wheatley provided a quick answer: "Show me 10 members, pay me 10 bucks for each, and I'll register you as a yacht club....but there's one condition.", "What's that?" "I want to be a member too!"
So it was, in the year of 1981, the Thousand Islands Yacht Club was gathered into the bosom of the CYCA, and stamped with legitimacy.
Cathy met a member of the small yacht club earlier in our vacation when we were waiting for a ferry to Nantucket. This member convinced us to stop at Thousand Islands on our way to Niagara Falls from Montreal.
Upon arrival, we could not find anyone around. We knocked and entered the small shed known as their clubhouse. Although there was no one present, there was a counter of assorted candy bars, a jar for paying, a bottle of Southern Comfort next to an old microwave, and a 12 pack of beer on the messy desk. They had 3 burgees in their collection pinned on the wall, one being their own.
We finally bumped into Bill, the “Water Manager." We told him we had hoped to meet the commodore and exchange burgees. He volunteered to see if he could find one amongst the mess of maps and other papers. He couldn't so he took the last known burgee off the wall and said, "it is a little worn, but it is yours." He took ours in exchange. We expressed our appreciation and told him a little about our club.
The TIYC burgee has a story too. The red, white and blue colors, the maple leaf and the white stars on blue background are symbolic of the club's Canadian & American ties, while the six stars represent the six founding members that came up with the idea on the moonlit drinking night.