Calgary Yacht Club

Jul 19

The Calgary Yacht Club (CYC), located in Chestermere, Alberta, has a distinctive and meaningful burgee—the triangular flag flown by yacht clubs to signify membership and identity. Since the early 1980s, CYC members have proudly flown a red pennant emblazoned with a white silhouette of two yachts on stylized waves.

This design emerged through a degree of necessity and creativity. Prior to the current version, the club had used two earlier versions: the original 1930s flag featured a blue field edged with yellow and marked by the letters “C.Y.C.” In 1978, the club held a design contest whose winning entry remains undocumented in physical form.

The current burgee’s inception, however, rests on a more spontaneous origin. According to club lore, Commodore Peter White sketched the concept on a bar napkin during a casual gathering with fellow board members—committee member Lee Nagy among them. The design depicted two sailboats sailing upwind, their overlapping wakes flowing behind them. Over time, that line merged into a form that some now jokingly liken to a flying goose—a serendipitous motif that only enriches the design’s charm.

Once the design was approved by the board, it was reproduced into pennants. Notably, a round stained-glass rendition of the burgee was crafted by artist Frank Meriwether of Danziger Art Glass and donated to the club—now displayed prominently in the clubhouse entrance, symbolizing both the flag’s significance and the artistry of its interpretation.

The flag’s red field exudes energy, visibility, and a bold maritime spirit, while the white silhouettes suggest clarity, motion, and the club’s enduring connection with sailing. The twin-yacht motif eloquently captures the essence of fellowship on the water, while the flowing “wake” evokes forward movement—a fitting emblem for a club dedicated to nautical activity and community.

From a traditional perspective, the burgee also signifies club membership and pride. Yacht club burgees are typically triangular flags flown from the masthead or starboard spreader of vessels, or from staff at the bow on powerboats. These flags are more than decorative; they serve as symbols of camaraderie, shared identity, and maritime heritage across the yachting world.