Sailing Matters 9th September 2026
Theres no particular order to SAILING MATTERS this week although there is a bit of a thread on double handers (boats with two crew in the boat).
As you know the 420 Nationals, held at Brixham 27-31/8/26, were won by our very own Neil Marsden and David Bromilow. They will be at the club on Friday evening this week, with their trophies and we will be able to congratulate and celebrate with them their fine win. Its not that often that we have National Champions currently in the club, even rarer are World Champions and as far as I know, we have never had an Olympic Medallist as a member of WKSC. And of course there has never been a successful British challenge for the Americas Cup though Sir Ben Ainsley, an Olympic Medallist in five consecutive Olympic Games, was tactician in the successful Oracle Team USA challenge for the Americas Cup against New Zealand, San Francisco, 2013 and some members of the club have been directly involved in the Americas Cup campaigns….. thats another story.
I mention this because apart from winning the 420 Nationals with Neil Marsden, David Bromilow and Arwen Fflur have embarked on an Olympic campaign in the 470 Class. We will have the opportunity on Friday evening of hearing more about their campaign. Guy from Seafood Shack will be catering, as usual, and he's introducing Pizzas to the menu.
I asked Neil and David the following questions:
- Have you won a National Championship before?
- What are the five factors that you regard as key to your win?
- What or who was the main threat ?
Their responses were as follows:
Neil:
- 420 Nationals on two previous occasions, GP14, Enterprise, Soling, 470, 3 x World Championships: Topper,GP14, & Enterprise.
- Key winning points: - 1 good boat preparation (this 2026 420 championship was a windy regatta - we had no gear failure). 2. Good communications in the boat, knowing what each other's priorities were, when to just go for boat speed versus when tactics had to become a priority. 3. Making good choices on rig setting when the conditions were changing. 4. For us, we read the last day well, knowing what was needed to get a win - our nearest competitor got that wrong! 5. Having our favourite snacks on board (chocolate !).
- Threat - The wind - get the boat round the course without capsizing or a retirement.
David:
- First National Championship victory. Second in 2022.
- Key winning factors: 1. Getting a clean start. 2. Minimising slow moments. 3. Confidence in decisions. 4. Trusting each other. 5. Racing clean and avoiding tangles with others.
- Threat: Our own mistakes were our biggest threat e.g. capsizing in race 3.
Editors note: Their results speak for themselves. In a fleet of 51 x boats over 10 x races, they had 5 x firsts, a second, a fourth, a fifth and an eighth. Only one discard (a thirteenth) allowed. Total points net = 24. Nearest competitor 34.
Three races a day of approx 45 to 50 minutes duration. 4 to 5 hours out on the water. Course(s) = trapezoid with inner loop 2 laps.
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Tuesday Evenings Laser, Solo and Illusion racing was blown off. 25 Knots
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Sundays Lake Autumn 3 & 4. Sailed in a SE breeze that was fine for most in the first race but the wind got up in the second race which halved the fleet. Glyn Purnell (ILCA6) won both races on handicap with Steve Shallcroft (ILCA6) second in the first race and Tony Clark (ILCA7) third. In the second race it was Steve Jardine (ILCA7) who took second place and Owen Chambers (ILCA7) third. Just for interest the only High PY handicap boat racing was the Heron sailed by Mike and Anne De St Paer. Very sensibly the RO had them starting and racing the same course as the Fast Handicap and they would have been third on handicap if they had been counted in the fast handicap in the first race.
Mike and Anne de St Paer sailing their Heron in last Snday's first race. One of two double handers of 15 x boats.
Henk & Liz Potter sailing their GP in last Sunday's first race. The other double hander !
Steve Jardine blasting away onto a run in last Sunday's second race
MIRROR CHAT
I havent completed the analysis of the Mirror Project yet but I am pleased with what has been achieved in the main part of the season but greedy for more. The key points are 1. More Mirrors in the club 2. Four Grand Mirror Days organised - three happened successfully, one was blown off. 3. Some Mirrors sailed on Friday evenings (but not enough). 4. Mirrors featured in the Extravaganza Week giving an opportunity for those involved to sail on the tide in some adventure sailing exploits. 5. Two brand new Mirrors bought by members. 6. Already some boats are changing hands within the club drawing more folks into the active sailors category.
Interestingly, the drought which affected the southern part of the country has caused some events to be cancelled due to lack of water in reservoirs. The Mirror Inlands planned at Staunton Harald SC (Derbyshire) for the end of this month has been cancelled because of low water level. The national committee enquired whether we would be able to run the event. Naturally we would but we havent heard anything in the last week so Im guessing they have found another venue BUT its interesting that the class chairman, who has raced many times in the Wilson Trophy and knew that we have a Mirror Project ongoing, should consider us for such an event.
If you are even slightly interested in the Mirror Project…sailing a Mirror at WKSC or know of someone who might be interested, dont hesitate to get in touch with Tony Marston.
Coming up this weekend : THE FALCON CHAMPIONSHIPS on bothSaturday and Sunday. Little Arvor will be the Committee Boat for this event. This means that on Sunday, dinghies will be starting off TArk with Hilbres and Stars for tidal racing. Should anyone wish to organise tidal race on Saturday (Handbook shows Tidal Sailing) please contact me.
West Lancs YC 24 Hour Race
There were times when there was much enthusiasm for the 24 Hour Race at Southport. It is very pleasing that we have, once again, got a team competing. Kieron Inman has master minded the entry. Good luck team: Kieron Inman, Paul Jenkins, AlanJenkins, Nicci Inman, Georgina Inman, Steve and Wendy Shallcroft and John Elliott - a report on the event will be in next weeks SAILING MATTERS.
Kieron Inman's GP prepped for the West Lancs YC 24 Hour Race this coming week-end.
The 1968 WKSC 24 Hour Team. You have to be of a certain age to recognise all of these sailors.
Thank you Alan Jenkins for providing info of the 1968 24 hour team achievements. Well done Kieron for re inspiring us all to this great local event at a kindred club.
I know I bleat on about SAILING ACTIVITY and it is the vitality that drives the club or at least is should be. WKSC is not alone is recording that things aint what they used to be but at the same time we are luckier than many in the range of sailing that is undertaken but encouraging more sailing is at the heart of the club enshrined in Rule 1 of the club….the object of the club shall be the encouragement of the sport of sailing.
Yacht and Yachting on line ran an article last week entitled Return of the Doublehanders. Its worth a read ….
Interesting how the sport moves with changing times. We have seen many more single handers than double handers racing in recent years but there are signs of double sanders making a comeback.
Check out Yachts & Yachting on line for the article 'Return of the Doublehanders'
Radio Racing
I started last weeks SAILING MATTERS with the DF95 racing and a visit from Dave Potter visiting us from Cumbria. I ran out of time to include a pic of the 6 Mtr Radio boat he demonstrated. Im including it this week. Dave went over to Rudyard Lake to compete in a DF95 Qualifying Event in which he came 4th overall. He was lying 2nd for some time but a battery failure and two T bone collisions (he was starboard right of way boat on both occasions) caused the drop down the results. FYI : 20 x races completed in this event. The top three places went to Birkenhead RS&PBC radio sailors: Peter Baldwin, John Brierley & Paul Middleton.
DF95's starting a race last week .... someone was over the line at the start and heading back.
Dave Potter demonstrated his carbon Radio 6M
WKSC 16ft STAR CLASS
It is not surprising that the beautifully restored Mars by Jean-Louis Simons and Mike Hartley has been scooped up by Alec Boughey and his son Charlie and that Alan Barr has bought Jupiter (Alan was responsible for the beautiful restoration of the Mk1 Firefly in the sheds). Good sailing to all concerned.
Tony Marston
Sailing Secretary
Last updated 17:16 on 9 September 2026