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Bendigo Bank & Thursday dinner $ to Balka Bathroom

Last week the Thursday night gang put on another wonderful meal for about 50 members in the club house. Apart from a great night, Mark, the Balnarring Bendigo Community Bank branch manager announced that we had received a grant of $25,000 towards what some people call “Balka Accessible Bathroom”. Some people say it looks to be the best accessible bathroom in the Southern Hemisphere.
Tue 13 Oct 2026

Merricks Yacht Club Commodore's 2026 Opening Celebration

Merricks Yacht Club Commodore's 2026 Opening Celebration is on Saturday 31 October from 6.30pm with finger food and drinks provided. The social highlight of the year - witty speeches, fine wines (well within reason) and a choice of beers, and great food.
Tue 06 Oct 2026

SATURDAY — BIG DAY, HUGE SUCCESS! MANY PEOPLE SAY BEST RUN RACE EVER.

The final race of the season, the Stern Chaser, and let me tell you, it was run BEAUTIFULLY. People are saying maybe the BEST run sailing race EVER — and they’re probably right! Anthony Brand and Simon Corden did an incredible job. Smooth, strong, total professionals. That’s how you run an event, folks. RESULTS? Stewart Carter takes #1 — fantastic! Peter Cass at #2 — very solid. Richard Jagger #3 — strong finish. Admiral Simon Webster — just off the podium
Sun 19 Apr 2026

Updated 'No longer the Commodore's' Commodore's Cup results

Turns out—VERY UNFAIR!—calling the handicapper “Goatless” after he pulled out after Race 1 of the 2026 Commodore’s Cup has CONSEQUENCES. Big ones. Nobody knew! And then—get this—a VERY ANGRY lawyer (not happy!) says his results were based on sailing a Gold rig… WRONG! He was actually on a Blue Melges. Total mess. So now—UPDATED RESULTS. The big, beautiful announcement at the Easter BBQ? CORRECTED. Sad! Want the REAL final series result? You’ll have to show up at Presentation Night Dinner.
Mon 06 Apr 2026

Commodore's Cup was the Commodore's Cup

In fluky and gutsy ESE winds, with challenging choppy seas 14 courageous boats set out to sea. Well, okay, not all were courageous as it turned out one boat withdrew after the first race when the skipper didn't like the chop (I'd say Goatless but that might give the game away). Our sailing captain didn't make it to the start of the first race (and may have forgotten to enter as he doesn't appear in the results), after bottling and breaking his tiller extension. But otherwise great sailing.
Sun 05 Apr 2026

The (web) Master Rules at least for one race

The first race was a display of extraordinary skills and fitness, with Simon (the Commodore) Corden #1, Team Wood #2, and Peter (the Goat [boat] lover) Balka under the guidance of yet another Wood coming #3. Matt (Nurse Ratched) Darby only managed #8! But he redeemed himself in the second race of the day, coming #1, followed by Derek (I'm no relation to Jonka) Hollander, and Tom (where's my wig) Clarke. A good fleet considering the wind and rain earlier in the day, and fun sailing for all.
Sun 29 Mar 2026

The daily double - Hollander & Wood

In beautiful sailing conditions, it was a double of #1 Hollander and #2 Wood - in both race 4 and 5 of the Autumn Series on handicap, with Leigh Glover and Martin Corden #3 in successive races. On yardstick it as Richard Jagger, Derek Hollander, and Matt Darby on the podium for both races (boring). More interesting was that Penny Balka was still smiling as she came off the Goat after two races, and Caroline Johnston had a grin from ear to ear returning to shore on a Sabre.
Sun 22 Mar 2026

Autumn Series not renamed 'The Commodore's Fearsome Wrath' Series

Yes, we have kept to the existing conventional name of the series, but Heat 2 didn't start with a conventional starting sequence when the rescue boat attempted an 'unusual' five minute starting sequence. After a revolt from fleet this, 'innovation' was rejected. So we ended up with Keith (the reef destroyer) (#1), followed by Simon (the Admiral), and Pete (the Goat [boat] lover). Heat 3 was a Simon W (#1), Leigh (the Professor, #2), and Martin (please no one ask him about solar) #3.
Sun 15 Mar 2026

Merrick's Wilcox trio blitz the Marley Point Overnight Race

The dynamic trio of Ryan, Dylan, and Harris Wilcox came third out of 47 boats in Division A in their Explorer 16 in the 2026 Marley Point Overnight Race. A very proud Grandpa Trevor was probably having a nap. A fantastic result for team Wilcox representing Merricks!
Tue 10 Mar 2026

Mitch, Mitch, Mitch

Mitch, what happened - top of the results table in Heats 1 and 2, and then 10th in the third Heat? And you pushed Toby (Mr Yogurt) Rechner into second place in those first two heats, but by the third heat it was Toby @ #4, embarrassingly far from you Mitch. The battle for third place in each race was fiercely contested in Heat 1 (Simon 'the Admiral' Webster), and Heat 2 (Pete 'I love a Goat' Balka). Heat 3 was a completely different kettle of fish - Doug Varey, Matt Darby & Michael Vandenberg.
Mon 09 Mar 2026

Autumn Series commences

In light and sometimes fluky winds, Keith (King of the Castle) Darwent dominated on MYC handicap- followed by three of the quartet for Melges (Simon, Derek and Richard). On Australian Sailing Handicap it was Richard (I am no longer a gypsy) Jagger, Derek (life is green) Hollander, and Simon ('The Admiral') Webster on the podium. Apparently, Matt (the late bird doesn't get the worm) Darby does not want to talk about today's results. And a big thanks to Chris Russell and Doug Varey for being on
Sat 28 Feb 2026

Drama on the high seas

The results may have been unexciting - Ian (the barman) Johnson and Simon (the Admiral) Webster taking Gold and Silver in both races. Pete (Dear Leader) Balka achieved bronze in the first race and Chris (ask me about my botanicals) Russell was bronze in the second race. But further back in the fleet there were reports of more controversy.
Sun 22 Feb 2026

Getting to the sharp end - heats 7 & 8 of the Summer Series

Well I am told that was fun. Heat 7 saw Derek 'Environmental Warrior' Hollander come in at #1, seeing off 'Dangerous' Doug and Martin 'Don't ask me about solar & batteries' Corden. After an exciting and somewhat unconventional start to Heat 8, Admiral Simon Webster topped the podium, followed closely by Martin, and Anthony 'Where are my keys' Brand. A big thanks to Mitch and Ian Basser who added a bit more excitement to the starting process.
Mon 16 Feb 2026

Ryan & Ruby Wilcox - State, National and World Champions

Ryan & Ruby Wilcox won the Explorer 16 Cruising Division (non-foiling) at Lake Wellington YC, and came fourth overall despite sailing only 3 races (1st, 2nd and 1st) - fantastic achievement. And rumours that Ryan was to be awarded the Explorer 16 World Peace Prize proved to be unfounded. But he must be candidate, for being both a member of Merricks YC (for whom he sails competitively) and our rivals at Westernport YC. Well done Ryan and Ruby.
Sun 08 Feb 2026

All class - the class racing regatta finishes with a good fleet

A healthy fleet of 17 boats battled it out to win this year's Class Racing Regatta. The Melges/Aero class was the most competitive fleet, although it is painful to use the word 'class' to describe that rabble. But, in addition to competitive racing we were provided with some worthy contenders for this year's Magoo award. Sion's effort to sail away with the bottom mark was unsuccessful, and capsizing was the order of the day too. The Commodore sought to brighten Jonka's day by capsizing too.
Thu 05 Feb 2026

Melges rule in a big fleet for Australian Day Regatta

It was Simon 'Admiral' Webster. @ #1 for heat 1, followed by Gerry Lennon in her Sabre, then Derek 'the environmental enforcer' Hollander. Heat #2 was Derek, followed by Simon, and then Anthony Brand, limbering up for his upcoming appearance in the Taser Worlds in Japan. When the breeze, picked up it was a Johnson #1 & #2, followed by four Lasers. Several 'interesting' capsizing moments - thank you Martin Corden, Mitch Campbell and Simon Corden.
Sun 25 Jan 2026

Lethal Leigh is back with a Lasers #1, #2 and #3

Nine highly skilled sailors battled it out in challenging conditions while the more timid manned (are we allowed to say that) Merricks Patrol. And while there was a strong fleet, the outstanding, heroic, skilled and very handsome Laser sailors of Leigh Glover, Simon Corden and Matt Darby battled it out to be on the podium for both races. Good racing for the last races of this mid-week Series.
Sat 24 Jan 2026

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