Vammalan Venekerho ry
Vammalan Venekerho ry is a general boating club in Vammala (Sastamala), Finland, founded in 1966. The club is based on the Rautavesi–Liekovesi–Kulovesi lake system and runs the home harbour Sylvään satama with berths and harbour services plus the outing base Ekosaari with sauna, barbecue shelter and mooring buoys. Members can pursue cruising and racing under sail as well as motorboating; the youth section uses four Optimist dinghies for guided training and free use. The club organises season opening and closing, boat inspections, charting work and competitions and is a member of the Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation and the Navigation Federation.
History
Vammalan Venekerho ry was founded in 1966 initially under the name Vammalan Vesiurheilijat ry. Its purpose was to foster interest in water skills and boat sport locally through competitions, cruising and club sails, trips and similar activities, to promote building, use and care of good sporting craft, and to develop members’ seamanship. The home harbour Sylvään satama was obtained for club use in 1975, first as storage and training ground for light dinghies. In 1984 a major expansion added slipways and two 24-metre pontoon jetties for Lightning class Finnish championship sailing; the harbour was equipped as a base for national-level sailing competitions. The sporting peak came in the 1980s with over 20 actively racing boat crews on the club register; some sailors competed nationwide and the club was known as a strong organiser of national events, with windsurfing also an important part of activity then. In 1996 the club acquired the Ekosaari outing-base plot on the island’s south shore. In 2001 the club leased the harbour area itself and built concrete pontoon berths and shore-parallel jetties for boats kept afloat. Today Sylvään satama offers berths for about 33 boats and land storage for around 20 light craft; about 30 inspected boats are on the club register. The club belongs to Suomen Purjehdus ja Veneily and the Navigation Federation and runs sailing and motorboating alongside boat inspection, waterway charting and youth Optimist sailing.
Information
Facilities
Home harbour Sylvään satama with berths for about 33–37 boats, land places for light craft, electricity, two slipways, junior boat gear storage, waste handling and the club notice board; municipal jetty 50 m away with water and septic pump-out. Outing base Ekosaari with 70 m shoreline, 40 m shore-parallel jetty, five mooring buoys, grill and fire pit, barbecue shelter, sauna building with sauna, changing room and club lounge, plus combined store and toilet building.
Activities
Cruising and racing under sail, motorboating, boat inspection (basic and annual), charting and buoy checks, youth Optimist sailing, season opening and closing, club events and trips to Ekosaari.
Youth section
Active junior section: four Optimist dinghies at the home harbour for guided practice and free use by junior members; annual sailing course covering boat handling and collision rules is aimed for; playful weekly sails for those interested in racing. Adequate swimming ability and parental involvement are expected.
Guest berths
Yes, at Ekosaari for members