News

The Mainsheet 9 September

Published Wed 09 Sep 2026

Welcome aboard to 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 11th Sept - Friday Night Social @ 6 pm
Fri 18th Sept - Halo Dinner @ 6 pm Book Here New KIDS MEALS avaliable

Sept - Membership renewal process has commenced More info below
Sun 20th Sept - Somers Yacht Club Annual General Meeting @ 10:30 am More info below
Sat 26th Sept - AFL Grand Final @ 1 pm
Sun 3rd Oct - Tower training More info below
Sun 11th Oct - Working Bee

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

Don't forget, everything is on our website

Gossip galley

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

Finishing line mark

Halfway through last season, our good serving 'A mark' gave up the ghost. It decided to break it's weild from its weight below the surface and drift ashore.

Our Commodore dove down to retrieve the weight and chain from the seabed, so we could have a marker to finish races for the rest of the season.

Over the winter months, Garry Morris has been doing some legwork, and we now have in our possession a very fancy new A Mark for the upcoming season.

One of the Working Bee tasks I am sure, will be to secure this on the water.

First to volunteer

Well done to Tash and Matt Stone, along with their girls, Emily and Ava, for being the first to sign up for the patrol boat roster. Gee, they were fast.

Not only were they the first to put their names on the roster, but also the first members to renew their membership. Can you guess what they are getting excited about coming up very soon?

Matt, Tash, find me at the start of the season; I have a surprise for you.

Our Instructors Lead the Way!

Facilitated by Australian Sailing, 'Training in Focus' takes place just once every two years. This valuable event brings together instructors, Discover Sailing principals, and sailing leaders to share ideas, learn new skills, and strengthen the training network.

At the most recent event, held a week ago at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Somers Yacht Club made a fantastic impression. Six of our keen and experienced instructors spent the day refining their sailing and windsurfing instructing techniques.

One highlight was a fun exercise where instructors had to teach "blindfolded" participants how to windsurf. Simulating a complete novice who has no visual sense of direction truly reinforced the value of clear, concise instructions and consistent feedback.

Our team also sharpened their powerboat skills, focusing on effective capsize recovery and new handling techniques. Even though many of our instructors are also our youngest powerboat drivers, they are easily the most competent in the club. They constantly navigate around children and upturned boats, all while keeping our participants calm and confident.

Finally, the team explored a new Australian Sailing app designed for instructors and participants. Loaded with run sheets and course activities, it will be an incredibly handy tool to have on our "pocket computers."

A huge thank you to Eli, Finn S, Hector, Henry, and Matilda for giving up their Saturday to attend and represent our club so well!

Emma Morris

Volunteering

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 2 positions

Kitchen coordinator - managing equipment and replenishing small stock items

Please phone or email Simon Morris for further info or questions. 0425 734 922 commordore@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

New Season Program is out now

Download yours here

AGM

The Somers Yacht Club Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday 20th September 2026 at 10.30 am.

Here is a link to Notice of AGM

Nomination Form Nominations close today - 9th Sept

Nominations should be emailed to secretary@somersyachtclub.com.au or posted to PO Box 127, Somers VIC 3927

Minutes 21st Sept 2025 AGM

The meeting will be followed by morning tea.

All members are encouraged to attend.

Race Day Roster Sign-Up

Sorry you didn't beat Matt and Tash this season, who were the first to sign up. But you can still be a hero and put your name on the Race day roster. Self-nomination for the duty and date is open until the end of October. After this date, if you have not signed up, all sailors will be allocated a slot or 2 on the roster.

Making sure your email address and phone number are correct for the individual when renewing your membership will help ensure reminders for duties go to the correct person.

We ask all members aged 15 and under to be with their parent or Guardian while doing their volunteering.

Membership Renewals 2026-2027

Your SYC website user name is in your personalised email version of The Mainsheet.

Membership renewals for the 2026-2027 Sailing Season has commenced. You have receive an email with details of Fees and the process for renewal at the end of August.

Membership can be completed online via the following Link https://www.somersyachtclub.com.au/rego/start/

You will need your Australian Sailing (AS) number to complete your membership renewal. It can be found here https://www.sailing.org.au/member-finder/.

In order to sail on our Opening Day and attend the Opening Night celebration on October 17, you will need to have renewed and paid for your annual membership.

If you know of anyone looking to join our amazing club, or have any questions about the process please contact membership@somersyachtclub.com.au

Tower Training Session

Interested in helping run our club races? Somers Yacht Club is holding a Tower Training Session on Saturday 3 October, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.

This session is open to all members who would like to learn more about volunteering in race management roles, including:

Race Recorder
Computer Operator
Assistant Race Officer

The training is also an excellent refresher course for current tower volunteers who would like to update their skills and knowledge before the season.

Volunteering in the tower is a great way to contribute to the club and support our racing program.

Join the SYC tower volunteers WhatsApp group and come along with your questions and an interest in learning more. We look forward to seeing both new and existing team members there!

Naomi Chiu Club Captain

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

Pass the Mic

Your segment to meet the crew under the spotlight

Jack Cassano

Skipper in the photo

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 member of Somers Yacht Club my entire life (19 years and counting). The particular moment for me was after sailing school in January 2016, when I practically begged Simon Morris to take me out for a joyride on his Hobie 16! However, it was WAYYY too windy for Simon to take a 35- 40 kg crew out in his first race on a catamaran! To my excitement, he took both my cousin Tara and me onboard as his crew for the race, where we took turns going on trapeze with each other. I’m not sure how much Simon enjoyed having two kids flying off the trapeze, falling into him (as they didn’t know how to balance themselves), but I sure remember how many laughs it provided us with! Theadrenaline rush was so exciting, and from that day forward all I’ve wanted to do is go flying on a Hobie cat, chasing that very same adrenaline rush I felt over 10 years ago today. It wasn’t only the adrenaline rush, but the sense of community and belonging that came alongside sailing at Somers Yacht Club, which I can proudly say has played a monumental part in the person I’ve become today. From there, my parents fortunately bought me a Hobie Hawk, of which I later progressed onto a Hobie Dragoon, a Hobie 14 Turbo and finally a Hobie 16!

Oh, that guy: What are you best known for around the club?

I’m not too sure what I’d be best known for around the club, but if I had to guess I think it would be because I’m a part of a great team of instructors here at Somers Yacht Club!

The Double Life: When you are not hanging out at the club, what secret hobbies or projects consume your time?

Aside from sailing, I really love playing footy and going skiing in winter!

The Highlight Reel: Tell us about one unforgettable, hilarious, or legendary moment you’ve experienced here.

100% without a doubt, instructing here at Somers Yacht Club, nothing quite compares to rocking up on the first day of a new course, working alongside some of your closest long-term mates!

The Time Capsule: Fast forward 5 years—what is the wildest or biggest thing you hope the club achieves?

I hope the club hosts a Hobie Nationals 😉😉!!

The Soundtrack: If our club had a theme song, what would it be?

Great Southern Land - ICEHOUSE

The Superpower: If you could bring one fictional character into the club, who would you recruit?

We’ve already got Nigel

The MVP: Who is another club member who deserves a shout-out right now, and why?

Matilda Morris!!! She deserves a shout-out for being such an incredible friend, a competitor on the race course and a great instructor that I’m proud to work alongside!

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

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