Late 1940s ACL movie A Yachtsman's Dream shot by E A Rutland at QCYC

The Yachtsman’s Dream - a colour movie shot at QCYC in the late 1940s which follows a fictitious yachtsman getting his boat ready, learning to sail her, winning a race and being presented with a trophy by none other than Al Rae Snr. The ACL (Amateur Cinema League) was established in New York City on July 28, 1926 as a non-commercial association of motion picture amateurs. Toronto Group of Amateur Cinema League formed in 1936. E. A. Rutland who made the movie "A Yachtsman's Dream" has not been identified but he must have been a member of the Toronto Group of ACL.
Commentary by Al Rae Jnr. on the Yachtsman’s Dream
QCYC yard in the spring / transom of “DAWN” a Rainbow sloop prepping/painting/naming
“TALISMAN” one of the vaunted QCYC Tourout fleet
R: Class sloops varnished hull Bruce Beatties “SCRAPPER”. Peg Lill on her foredeck. Open view north to City, Harold Robbins cottage at 1 Seneca
“MEDORA” 45’ sloop built by Bill Churchill and his son Doug. Bill was a mainstay member of the Club. She grew old and full of rot, given a Viking funeral, burned in the yard in the early 50s
“Butter” the old fashioned way - typical launch scenes
“VALHALLA” with Al Rae (My Dad) on board
No “head wall” to lagoon edge - “sandy beach” shoreline. “winching” by hand - again, the old fashioned way
“DAWN” is launched, at mooring and bailing while planking/seams expand - the joys of “natural” fibre, ” under sail east end of Bay - coal piles in background where “Docks” nightclub is now. In Lake and Eastern Gap. Back at mooring
“VANIR” in the cut - one of QCYC’s vaunted Tumlaren fleet
“SCRAPPER”
“MEDORA” with towing dinghy - not an unusual sight in the day
“C” Class sloop
“VALHALLA - note natural gas storage tanks in the background
SIDEWHEELER LAKE BOAT (name unknown) - likely on her way to Port Dalhousie or Niagara on the Lake - a popular way to get to the other side of the Lake in the day as there was no QEW. End of Eastern Gap at Cherry Street
QCYC Clubhouse
City Skyline dominated by Royal York, CIBC, St James Steeple
“VALHALLA”
“MEDORA”
The fleet assembles for the Yachtsman’s Dreams race. Start off the end of the Club as it was from the Club balcony for years regardless of the wind direction - until the Race Committee began to set marks in the Bay in the early 60s
Start - firing of ceremonial brass cannon donated to Club by Al Rae in 1948/49
Island Ferry “T.J.Clarke” steaming over to Ward’s Island
Starter (Ted Lill) gets fleet underway mixed bag of designs no PHRF then
White “R” Class at the mark
Miscellaneous centerboards - terminal warehouse to right - grain elevators to left
Belching smokestacks in what is now called the East Portlands
“VALHALLA” with Al Rae at helm
Ted and Peg Lill at the helm of their boat
“SCRAPPER” with Bruce Beattie
Mark roundings with 6 meters, R Class and “C” class sloops
“DAWN” rounds the mark … well back
Gord Cross with his “Tourout”
“VALHALLA” with RCYC tender “HIAWATHA” or “KWASIND” in background
“VANIR” + “VALHALLA”
Our Hero wins with “DAWN” after what is obviously a great comeback or some creative editing
Al Rae Snr. presents trophy to our Hero
Our Hero awakens to find it is still winter and the sailing paradise that is Queen City was just a dream
The QUEEN CITY crest … our paradise.