Ballarat Yacht Club season opens - first time in seven years

by Melanie Whelan,The Courier/Sail-World on 1 Nov 2010 The breaking of the drought and the flooding of the western plains has not only been good for the farmers, but sailors are rejoicing as well.

The Ballarat Yacht Club is back in business for the first time in seven years, as Melanie Whelan describes:

Hurrahs sounded on Lake Wendouree at the deafening crack of cannon fire to signal the Ballarat Yacht Club's season opening for the first time in eight years. Nine boats glided past the club's new decking as part of the ceremony last weekend.

'We usually have 50 on the water, but the rest will come,' Ballarat Commodore Brian Canny said.

Australia's oldest inland yacht club, established in 1877, has been banished from Lake Wendouree for seven years in drought conditions.

Canny and his small committee have worked hard to keep the club alive, and they were proud to see their efforts rewarded.

'It's great to finally open a season. It's been a while,' he told The Courier. 'It's been very difficult the past few seasons because we haven't had any members.

'We're not lucky to have survived - we were determined to keep this one going.'

Yachting Victoria chief executive officer Ross Kilborn, who was on hand for the ceremony, said 15 inland clubs across Victoria had folded in the past 10 years due to drought.

Ballarat has already launched a takers program to introduce juniors to the sport, and will start a Learn to Sail program at the club on November 13, running every Saturday until Christmas.

Canny said people of all ages were welcome.

He hoped to see more lightweight sharpies and jubilees, Ballarat's former trademark boats, sailing on Lake Wendouree soon.