Submitted by Carl Davis, Commodore, Orcas Yacht Club.

Ever wanted to be a member of a yacht club? One that is filled with friendly folks who like boating and being on the water? If so, maybe the OIYC is for you!

The Orcas Island Yacht Club https://oiyc.org/, is celebrating its 66th year since its founding in 1956. The activities of the club include social events, club cruises to neighboring islands, a competitive adult sail racing program and a very successful youth sailing program, Sail Orcas, http://sailorcas.org/.

If you would like to learn more about our yacht club, we invite you to attend our July 4th Picnic and Open House at our picnic shelter, 876 Deer Harbor Road, in West Sound.

The luncheon will begin at 12 noon, with a fabulous menu of meatball submarine sandwiches with melted mozzarella and parmesan, pulled pork sliders with coleslaw corn on the cob, and fruit salad for dessert. There will also be a vegetarian option of roasted red pepper, Provolone cheese, arugula and pesto sauce hoagie. Tickets will be $25 for the meatball and pulled pork sliders and $20 for the veggie sandwich with hot dogs for kids available for $5 each.

Tickets will need to be purchased in advance by June 27, but, as always, we will have extra tickets available at the door, at least until the food runs out. Email membership@oiyc.org to purchase your tickets. At 3 p.m., the starting gun will go off for the first ever R2PI — “Race to Picnic Island” — a non-competitive race for small watercraft with no motors. Bring your row boat, canoe air mattress, surfboard, SUP, sailing dinghy, Huckleberry Finn-style raft or anything that floats for this fun, family event. The race will begin at the OIYC dock and contestants will paddle past the West Sound Marina to Picnic Island and return — a total distance of about 1/2 mile.