The Elsinore Yacht Club hosted its first Wednesday Night Beer Can Regatta on May 6 at Elm Grove Beach, launching a weekly event that will take place Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The event is free for members, and nonmembers interested in joining the yacht club are also encouraged to attend.
Daniel Penning, founder of the Lake Elsinore Yacht Club, said the idea for this event follows a broader sailing tradition.
“It’s kind of a worldwide sailing tradition,” Penning said. “People race on the water on a Wednesday afternoon, but in a very casual and relaxed way. And then the winner wins a six pack.”
He said the goal is to make the yacht club more accessible and build interest through casual weekly races.
“It seemed like a good idea to show people what you can do at a yacht club and to gather people up and to slowly build something,” Penning said.
Penning said the response to the first event was positive.
“We were really surprised with the outcome of people,” he said. “Everybody really enjoyed it, and it was very casual.”
About five boats and 10 people participated in the first event, according to Daniel. He said the turnout also led to new memberships.
“We had three people sign up after, based on this event,” he said.
The club currently offers an annual membership for $99, which includes access to member events as well as activities such as paddleboarding, wakeboarding and Hobie Cat sailing. The yacht club currently has close to 20 members and is aiming to get to 50. Penning said the goal is to bring more people into the club through more consistent, relaxed events.
“It would be great if we had more people singing up and joining the events,” he said. “We are a non-profit and everyone is welcome to join.”
Penning said the club plans to add other weekly events in the future but is taking a gradual approach.
“First, we’re going to go slow and get set up before we move forward with other things because we don’t want to rush it,” he said.
For more information about upcoming events or membership, visit https://www.elsinoreyachtclub.net/become-a-member.
