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Welcome to the
Rio Grande Yacht Club

Let the fun begin!

As the Rio Grande winds South it makes a stop in Elephant Butte Lake. This marvelous lake is the largest body of water in New Mexico where many different species of fish live including: Striped bass, White bass, Largemouth bass, Smallmouth Bass and Walleye. Grab your rod, set your sail or go for a cruise and enjoy what the Rio Grande has in store for you.

LAKE LEVEL REPORT

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We started our season in January with lake levels at an elevation below 4,295 ft of elevation which is 4% of capacity.  Runoff brought our elevation level to 4,333 at the end of May which is considered 40% of capacity. Water goes over our spillway at 4,365. At present our elevation is 4,325 but we expect it to start dropping more rapidly because the slope of the lake causes loss of elevation faster the lower it gets. I use a website, Elephant Butte Lake Water Levels on Google to follow the managers projections. Right now they have told our State Park Officials that they will not stop the water released through the dam until the end of October. What this means to me is that the elevation will be back below 4,300 ft, however even at 4% of capacity we can still use the full lake for sailing from Dam Site Marina to the South to Kettle top North, which is about 8 nautical miles. The channel is narrow but we can still sail all year around. Hope this helps, I appreciate your reaching out.

 

Ken Tighe Mast Up Storage Manager,  

tighekenneth@gmail.com,  or text 505 328 4826.

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Click here                                  to see the current Lake Levels of Elephant Butte form the Water Data for Texas.

Adventure

Safety

Memories

Experiences

Message from Past Commodore

Rio Grande Yacht Club  

PO Box 220 

Elephant Butte NM 87935 

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Rio Grande Yacht Club 2023 Calendar of Events


Hello all interested Sailors,

 The RGYC celebrates 63 years of sailing on Elephant Butte Lake this year. Over that time we have enjoyed social events, sailing seminars, sailboat racing and youth sailing programs just to name a few things we are involved in. Covid hit us hard but we are again out enjoying our lake and hope for better things this year. Please review the calendar below and make commitments to getting back in the groove with you friends, family and fellow Club members. We will continue to call our Skippers meeting at our Mast Up Storage facility around 10:00am with plans to be on the water by 12 noon until around 4:00pm. These events are open to all interested persons including children with little or no sailing experience necessary and we will provide life jackets if you need one. The Club purchases a Special Use Permit from the State Parks which is a requirement for the RGYC liability insurance.

Please come out and give us a try this year.

At Present all Events are on the Third Saturday Each Month Unless Otherwise Posted.


January 21, 2023, Frost Bite Regatta, Skippers Meet at Mast Up 10:00am
February 18 th , 2023, Valentine’s Day Chute Out, Skippers Meet at Mast Up 10:00am
March 18, 2023, Spring Fun Cup, Skippers Meet at Mast Up 10:00am
April 15 th , 2023, Rich Strasia Memorial Cup, Skippers Meet at Mast Up, 10:00am
May 20 th , 2023, Anniversary Cup, Skippers Meet at Mast Up 10:00am
June 17, 2023, Fun Race/Raft Up, Skippers Meet at Mast Up 10:00am
July 15 th , 2023, Beach Party/Dinghy Races, Skippers Meet at Beach Site (Look For Club Flags)
August 19, 2023, Beach Party/Dinghy Races, Skippers Meet at Beach Site (Look For Club Flags)

September 16, 2023, Fall Cup/Raft Up, Skippers Meet at Mast Up 10:00am

October 21, 2023 Race to the Elephant, Skippers Meet at Mast Up 10:00am
November 18 th , 2023 Commodore Cup/Board Meeting, Skippers Meet at Mast Up 10:00am
December 16 th , 2023 Holiday Cup, Skippers Meet at Mast Up 10:00am

If there are any questions or if additional information is needed, please check out our website at
“rgyc.net” or you can contact us by telephone at 505 328 4826, texting (not while driving) is ok
or e-mail tighekenneth@gmail.com . Also, our mailing address is RGYC PO box 220, Elephant
Butte NM 87935


Very Truly Yours
Ken Tighe

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Club Races and Gatherings

happen monthly on the

3rd Saturday!

We would love to see you at every Event so mark your Calendars for the

third Saturday of the month and meet us on the Elephant Butte Lake and

if you are not a member we would love to have you join us.

We are always looking for crew members. Just let us know and we will get you connected.  

Club's Past Events

Rio Grande Experiences

“I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."

Jimmy Dean

Sailboat Bow

Boats for Sale!

1974 Hull Model Sailing Dinghy

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For Sale $3,500 obo


This is a like New, indoor kept boat and trailer which has just come to our Mast Up Storage facility at Elephant Butte Lake. The boat was built by Diller-Schwill (DS Yachts) in Odessa, Ontario Canada as a limited edition DS-16 designed by G. Diller and Herman Schwill, first built in 1970. This is a 1974 Hull and Trailer, the Model is a Sailing Dinghy, with covered cabin, weighs in at 500 lb, and with Centerboard down draft is 4.00 ft and can be towed by any vehicle. The boat and trailer have New Mexico Titles.

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For additional information, please contact Ken Tighe, mast up storage manager, 505 328 4826, text ok or e-mail tighekenneth@gmail.com

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Sunfish sailboats

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Listed June 3, 2022 

The club has several (6 total) Sunfish sailboats that we are selling. The basic boats (5 of them) are complete having spars, sail, rudder and dagger board. Some may need more work but they all will float and sail. They are sold as is for $250. They don’t have a trailer but they are titled. To transport them it’s probably best put it on the car roof or in the bed of a truck or buy a small trailer like the ones sold at harbor freight or northern tool. 

 

Then there is one with a titled trailer, a nice sail and a new rudder and dagger board that is $1000. 

For more information please contact 

Rick 575-649-6385 or

Past Commodore Ken Tighe

Text or call: 505-328-4826

Email: tighekenneth@gmail.com

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1979 20' Balboa Sailboat

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Listed April, 2023

1979 20' Balboa sail boat, complete boat with trailer, main sail and jib. 3 1/2 up Mercury 4 stroke. Boat and trailer have current New Mexico titles. $2,500.00 or best offer. Contact Terry Brower at rgyc.net

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Pictures coming soon

1983 Merritt 22 Sailboat

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Listed April, 2023

Boat and trailer are in very good condition, ready to hit the water. Dry berthed at EB Yacht Club fenced storage yard just 100 yards or so from the Marina del Sur a drop-in ramp. Includes the main sail, jib sail and storm sail. All rigging is in good functional condition, ready to sail. Has a 6HP Evinrude outboard motor with rebuilt carburetor last year, runs great. Has a five or six gallon fuel tank. The interior has like new cushions and some new floor coverings installed. Keel can be raised and lowered for shallow water if needed. Tires on the trailer are in good condition, with a spare wheel/tire included.

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FYI "A.D.I.D.A.S" stands for All Day I Dream About Sailing.

 

Asking $4,300. Call Caden with any questions on the boat. 

575-640-8312

Catalina 22

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Listed November, 2023

 

1992 Catalina 22 wing keel. 135% roller furling head-sail, Autopilot, pop top with enclosure, tohatsu outboard, 2 mainsail, one with 2 sets of reef points, 1 storm jib, 2 Genoa, 1 cruising spinnaker in furling sock, vhf radio, whisker pole, stainless steel rail mounted grill, much other gear. Can change forestay if desired to use hanked on sails instead of roller furling.  

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$8,000 or best offer. 

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For more information please contact 

Ken Tighe  Text or call: 505-328-4826

Email: tighekenneth@gmail.com

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