The Main Sheet

Welcome aboard our newsletter.

This is your go-to source for everything happening around Somers Yacht Club.  Our goal is simple: to keep you reliably informed while having a bit of fun along the way. Through shared member stories and insider knowledge, we cross bridges to tie the entire club community together. 

Dive in, enjoy the read, and we will see you at the club soon!

Upcoming Events

• Fri 6th Nov - Friday Night Social @ 6 pm
• Sat 7th Nov - Championship Race @ 2:30 pm
• Fri 13th Nov - SWISH 2-5 pm BOOK HERE
• Fri 13rd Nov - Friday Night Dinner @ 6 pm   FISH & CHIPS   BOOK HERE
• Sat 14th Nov - Learn to Windsurf course @ 9:00 am
• Sat 14th Nov -  Pre-Christmas Race @ 2:30 pm
• Sat 14th Nov - Set Sail for Disaster: A Murder Mystery BOOK HERE; more info below
• Fri 20th Nov - Friday Night Social @ 6 pm
• Sat 21st Nov - Learn to Windsurf course @ 9:00 am
• Sat 21st Nov - Championship Race @ 2:30 pm

Meet great people and join our volunteer crew behind the bar. BAR ROSTER HERE

Don't forget, everything is on our website 

Reflections from the water, the social scene, clubhouse banter, and members' antics.

A Caribbean Cruise Murder Mystery Dinner

So, how does the Murder Mystery actually work?

First, don’t worry, you don’t need to be an actor! There are no scripts to learn, no lines to memorise and no preparation required.

When you arrive, everyone will be given a character name badge. Your character simply makes you part of the story. You can have as much fun with the role as you like, but you won’t be expected to perform or stay “in character” all night. Your Caribbean Cruise costume is also just for fun and doesn’t need to match the character you’re given.

Once the murder occurs, you’ll be divided into small detective teams (your tables) and the mystery will unfold over three rounds.

In each round:

* Your team will receive clues containing pieces of the story.
* You’ll work together to discuss what they mean and develop theories.
* You’ll need to swap clues and information with other teams, because no single team will have enough information to solve the mystery on its own.
* There will also be a few fun activities, discoveries and surprises along the way.

You will need to mingle and talk to other people, but it’s simply chatting, swapping clues and trying to uncover information. You don’t need to interrogate anyone or act out scenes.

After each round, teams can nominate a spokesperson to share an accusation or theory, so not everyone has to speak in front of the room.

At the end of the night, your team will decide who committed the murder and what really happened. Then the full story will be revealed and we’ll find out which team are the best detectives.

In short: dress up, have dinner, join your team, follow the clues, mingle a little and have fun trying to solve the murder.

BOOK HERE NOW

Only one week left to book

Welcome aboard… paradise is about to take a deadly turn.

Prepare for an evening of mystery, mayhem and murder as Somers Yacht Club transforms into a Caribbean cruise where the drinks are flowing, the passengers are colourful and everyone has something to hide.

You and your fellow passengers will become part of the story, caught in a web of intrigue as a tropical night at sea takes a sinister turn. Gather clues, uncover evidence, question suspicious characters and see if you can solve the crime before the evening is over.

And because no Caribbean cruise is complete without a colourful cast of characters, dress for the voyage as your choice of:

Pirate
Sailor or Crew Member
Stowaway
High Society Passenger
Caribbean Beach Goer

While the mystery unfolds, enjoy a delicious HALO dinner featuring slow-braised beef brisket with rich beetroot-red sauce, creamy mashed potato and seasonal vegetables, followed by lemon tart with a berry “blood” sauce for a suitably dramatic finale. For our vegetarian and gluten free voyagers, Mediterranean ratatouille, slow-cooked with seasonal vegetables, garlic and fragrant herbs, served with creamy mashed potato followed by fresh fruit salad with berry “blood” sauce.

One Caribbean cruise. Plenty of secrets. One murder to solve.

Clubhouse and Yard

As the club navigates its way from one cleaning contractor to another, it is a good opportunity to remind members to treat the club as their own and keep it tidy. This, in turn, reduces our cleaning costs, which allows us to keep our fees low. So please don't be afraid to grab the vacuum, broom or mop, and help keep our club tidy. 

Please keep sand out of the clubhouse, including the showers, by using the foot wash outside. 

If you see the grass growing too long in the yard, we have a club lawn mower in the container for sensible members to use. Please wear protective shoes; wetsuit booties don't count!

Crew Notice Board

Did you know there is a crew notice board on our website?

We want to do everything possible for you to get out on the water and find that perfect crew that will work for you. Under the Sailing tab, Racing, we have many green buttons that you can follow for more information. One happens to be called Crew Noticeboard. 

Please use this resource and have a great time on the water. 

See Crew Noticeboard Here

Thank you to our TREASURER

Deb Lever is stepping down from the role of Treasurer, effective at the end of October. We want to thank Deb for her willingness to assist the club over the past 7 months. Her foundational work on MYOB in the cloud and other governance systems has positioned us well for the future. We will utilise both internal and external skills and advice until we fill the Treasurer role.

We are now seeking expressions of interest for a member to fill the vacant Treasurer role

• Enjoy structured, detail‑oriented work.
• Want to contribute meaningfully to club stability and governance.
• Are comfortable with numbers and financial systems (MYOB)
• Appreciate supporting a community‑based sailing environment.

If this sounds of interest, we would be happy to discuss how this role can be structured to best suit your availability.

Please contact Simon Morris on 0425 734 922 or Cam Harvey on 0414 384 265

Voluntering

It turns out that giving your time to the club is the ultimate wellness trick—delivering a dose of purpose, a break from daily stress, and a great excuse to hang out with great people. As the largest off-the-beach club in Victoria, run solely by volunteers, we need to share the load. 

Currently, we are looking for 3 positions

• Club Treasurer - see above description
• Club Maintenance Coordinator - leading a team to get things done around the club.
• Kitchen Coordinator - managing equipment and replenishing small stock items

Please phone or email Simon Morris for further info or questions.   0425 734 922  commodore@somersyachtclub.com.au

If you would like to offer your time or skills in other areas, please follow the link at the bottom: 'Have something to say?'  or contact Simon Morris

Did you know your Yacht Club is a registered charity for donations?

 You can donate your containers at ANY CDS refund point and donate the money to Somers Yacht Club.

Using this barcode - save it to your phone NOW

It works at any CDS refund point!

Our local CDS is 15 Wallis Drive Hastings, Open Mon - Sat 9- 4:30

We need help also in taking our ever-growing containers, below the deck, to a refund point. Please don't hesitate to help us out, especially people who are free on weekdays when the point is open. There are crates for containers to travel in your car or trailer.

Season Program 2026-27

Download yours here

If you have some Gossip that needs to be shared, please email it to communications@somersyachtclub.com.au

Your segment to meet the crew under the spotlight

Caitlin Bly

The Origin Story: How long have you been a part of the crew, and what was the exact moment you realised you had to join and why?      I have been a part of the crew at Somers Yacht Club for 26 years! I joined with my family in the 2000/01 Season when I was just 10 years old. My first season, I joined Sailing school and thought just how cool the older kids who were instructing were and wanted to be just like them, having fun around the club and teaching the new kids.

Oh, that guy: What are you best known for around the club?    Wendy's daughter, the Past Commodore's wife, the lady with the 2 kids that are always running around the club, the First Aid guru and more recently the one with the 2 little crews paddling round the racecourse (forward and backwards) even when I have told them not to! Apologies, Division 5.

The Double Life: When you are not hanging out at the club, what secret hobbies or projects consume your time?      When I am not hanging out at the club, you will find me either wrangling my 2 kids, sweating it out at CrossFit in Hastings, or you might stumble across me at the op shops!

The Highlight Reel: Tell us about one unforgettable, hilarious, or legendary moment you’ve experienced here.    My most memorable moment at the club was at the 2012 Laser State titles (now ILCA) at Somers Yacht Club, where I rounded the top mark in front of Krystal Weir (Olympian) - I may not have retained my position, but it was such an amazing feeling at the time.

The Time Capsule: Fast forward 5 years—what is the wildest or biggest thing you hope the club achieves?     Keeping kids in sailing and boats - the current crew is doing an amazing job, and I just hope when my two little ones are ready to join in, we still have a happy and strong youth presence. The club was an important part of my youth and growing up, and I want the same for my kids.

The Soundtrack: If our club had a theme song, what would it be?        The song that always reminds me of Somers Yacht Club and being on the water is Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls, thanks to Keith Moore's sailing compilation made back in the early 2000s

The Superpower: If you could bring one fictional character into the club, who would you recruit?     Captain Planet for his ability to control the weather! A beautiful, sunny 10-15 knots every sailing day!

The MVP: Who is another club member who deserves a shout-out right now, and why?     The tractor drivers! Grahame, Simon, Nigel and anyone else who jumps on and helps out - you all are my son Liam's idols. As soon as he gets his licence in 2040, you will not be able to get him off the tractor! But honestly, sailing couldn't occur without this very important job of launching and retrieving the boats, especially in the peak of summer when the beach is packed and you have an audience. They all make it look so seamless, backing the trailer in swell, weed or a tricky tide.

Sealand Marine 10% Discount

Members of Somers Yacht Club are offered 10% discount on purchases if they provide proof of membership.

The attached document has the details: Somers YC Member Discount Offer

Have something to say! 

Follow the link and please tell us.

Your feedback is important to us as a community club. 

CLICK HERE