Yacht Club member skeptical city can open Marina by May 15

Those waiting to dock their boats at the city’s now under-construction marina are going to be waiting a long time, a member of the local yacht club says.

The city announced Wednesday that an $8.6 million overrun on Phase 1 of the waterfront development project has only left $1.1 million for Phase 2, which includes the marina.

Thunder Bay Yacht Club rear commodore Burt Blaauw said his members are left wondering whether the city can still commit to a May 15 opening for the marina.

"It’s rather disappointing to hear that it’s far down the road. How far we don’t know for sure but let’s put it this way, if you do not have a spot in the marina right now you’re probably going to have to wait for a while," said Blaauw.

Blaauw said because the yacht club has been counting on the May 15 opening, no other plans, such as using marinas in Nipigon or Red Rock, have been made. He said the announcement doesn’t come as a surprise to yacht club members who have been skeptical of the city’s timetable from the beginning of the waterfront development.

"There’s going to be a lot of ‘I told you so’ happening," Blaauw said.

Between the yacht club and the Marina advisory board, Blaauw said the city has been given options to accommodate marina users, but so far the city has refused to listen to the advice. Blaauw said there would obviously be inconveniences for boaters but it would be in the name of progress.

Last summer, Blaauw said the city’s "draconian rules" for parking made it difficult for people to sail.

"If people are willing to listen, it can all be worked out," Blaauw said.

With his boat parked at Pier 2, still a construction pit as Blaauw calls it, he said no matter what he’ll be sailing out of the marina this summer.

"Even if I have to swim to it I’ll swim to it if I have to" Blaauw joked.