Newsletter 16 04 25
Published 10:30 on 16 Apr 2025
Welcome to WKSC Newsletter |
| A round up of Club news this week... including sailing, training and upcoming social events. Also included are links to the Galley on Friday menu and current boats for sale. .. |
| A View from the Bridge |
The Presidents race went well, a good fleet made it out onto the water as the wind came out to play and made everyone work for a living. One of our juniors Tom Underwood went to his first ever event this weekend. Junior Traveller in Delph. 1st U16 boy! A great showing for his first ever event. Well done Tom! In the rest of the Junior world it was fabulous to see so many kids out on the Lake on Friday night. It was also great to see the older kids taking out the younger ones! Perfect! There are a number of new members, so if you see people sitting by themselves, go and have a chat! Saturday night was the Falcon Cocktail Party, where Mike and Martin did a fantastic job of inebriating the attendees. As I can't drink when I'm on rota to work, it was amusing to watch people slowly lose the power of speech.      Falcon Party photos courtesy of Eric Wells The Wilson Trophy is in 3 weeks. Still a few more people to house, boats to rig, the shed to turn into the Summer Pavilion and the Yard to tidy. The usual suspects are working hard trying to make the UK's flagship Team Racing event as good as always. We will be asking for Volunteers to help with this, so please watch this space. We will be looking for volunteers to help run the Wilson next year as well, so if you don't know what it is all about, please come down to watch this year and we will gladly show you the ropes. We have merchandise for the Wilson on the Website, so feel free to check it out and put your order in, especially if you want to look interesting when you are visiting other Clubs. An early heads up, we will be calling a meeting in the next few weeks to let people know how we are getting on with the lake licences, at the moment we are looking at Thursday 24 April - after Sailing (TBC). The Team have been working very hard on this, but discussions are not yet complete. Right, I've rattled on for long enough, I'll leave you in peace. Gatenby Out. |
| News & Notices |
Star Cygnus for Charter
The Star Association is offering Cygnus for the summer as a charter, at no cost but with a commitment by the interested member (s) to check her when the tides are out and sail / take part in the weekend star sailing. She is a true classic and fettled back to an excellent standard over the winter months. She is now launched and lying on her mooring. The Association only asks interested members of the club, to give the star the love and attention it deserves and take her for regular sails. If you need help to familiarise yourself with sailing Cygnus, the association will be on hand to help you. If you are interested, please contact our President John Dowler or our class Captain Nick Ledingham, Numbers in the handbook. Happy sailing. We have been advised by Lloyds Bank we must change the bank account used for the 200 Club. Whether you pay monthly or annually please can you change your standing order as soon as possible to the new account details below. Only you can do this the Club cannot do this for you. Account Name: West Kirby Sailing Club Sort Code: 30-54-66 Account Number: 33623068 Reference: Your name Standing Orders paid into the existing bank account after 14th April 2025 will be returned to you. If you have any queries, please contact Bob Jarvis by email bobjarv@yahoo.co.uk or text 07759 272742 Anyone wishing to join or add numbers please text Bob Jarvis 07759 272742 to arrange a time to choose your numbers and start date. Wilson Trophy Merchandise  We have our Wilson Merchandise available to order on the Website - Click here Or go to the Website - Shop - WKSC Wilson Trophy Merchandise. NOTE - Please order before this Friday (18th April) if you would like it for the event. They will be available to collect at the Club from the Wilson Friday.  WKSC Merchandise Will be added to the Website in the next few weeks. |
| Galley |
The Galley on Friday This week Smash Bros will be serving their delicious menu click here for the Menu |
| Sailing Matters |
Sailing Activity I am trying to focus on increasing the already increasing sailing activity in this week's report in the hopes that it will encourage yet more folk to go afloat and enjoy the season. Evening Racing is building up especially with the better weather of late. Notably the Wednesday evening handicap recorded 12 x boats competing and the Solos and GP's had 7 x boats each out on their respective nights. The Laser's on Tuesday night managed 12 boats but with the potential of many more. Right at the end of the high pressure and the settled spell that went with it came the Presidents Race last Saturday. The forecast was good though a bit fresh for some. Twenty three boats were attracted to compete in this race open to all; traditionally the first tidal race of the season. Dee SC were hosting the Dart18 open event and with the southerly to south westerly wind their starting line rneeded to be a good way north, in turn our start area had to be north of the moorings. This took some time to get set up but the race got underway some twenty minutes later than planned. Liz Potter (Contender) sailed a good race and won but by only 18 seconds on corrected time from the Rileys's: Jemima, Nick and Chris sailing their Hilbre. Andrew Potter (Phantom) was third, Andy Bell (Laser) fourth and Mike Hartley with Lindsay Gatenby and Sophie Gatenby fifth in a Falcon after recovering from a collision on the start line in which they became entangled losing valuable time before extracting themselves. Steve Fleming sailing his International Canoe occasionally took the lead but the long winter had dinted his canoe sailing capability and the odd capsize got in the way more practise required perhaps? John Carlin and Thomas Tebner in the Albacore found the choppy conditions not quite to their liking. 14 x different classes of boat competed. Of the 14 there were 4 x Falcons and 4 Lasers competting. 41 x sailors, 15 x in support (Race Team, Rescue Boat Crews, Course layers, Results and Beachmaster) and the Race Officer: Peter Bramley, President of WKSC Liz Potter winner of the Presidents Race in her Contender pic Alan Jenkins  Presidents Race (pic Alan Jenkins) Presidents Race from Dan Booth's drone
Tidal Racing Sunday 13/4/25
Sunday saw another brisk day on the estuary for the start of the Spring Series. The turnout was a bit slim but then two days on the run of breezy conditions and a cocktail party could be an explanation (but only for the Falcons !). 4 x Hilbres competed. Chris Booth and Ian Clarke's 'Hie' leading the series on the last race decider from David Stothard and Tim Booth's 'Hioco', both had a win and a second. Hirondelle was a non starter due to a jammed main halyard.
Although Liz Potter leads the Spring Series sailing her Contender in the handicap dinghies, this was again a last race decider which she won. Andrew Potter won the first race in his Phantom with Glyn Purnell having two 2nds in his Lasr Radial. Close stuff; 2 points separate the first three boats.
WKSC Sailors sailing elsewhere: North West Junior Travellers Trophy at Delph SC Saturday 12/4/25
Young Tom Underwood, who started sailing/racing last year in the coached Feva Racing on Friday nights, travelled to Delph SC for the Junior Travellers Trophy last weekend and won the Easter Egg for the first under 16, Well done Tom.   Tom Underwood Winning Under 16's at Delph SC International Canoe Open Event Poole YC Weekend 12&13/4/25 Dan Skinner competed in the first IC Open event of the season at Poole YC. Despite being a bit rusty after a long winter layoff he managed a 3rd, 2nd and 1st in the first day's racing followed by a 2nd in the first race on Sunday. Alas a capsize followed resulting in damage to his mainsail preventing further racing.  Dan Skinner racing in the IC Open Event at Poole YC RYA Youth National Championships Plas Heli, Pwllheli. Under way at Pwllheli the RYA Youth National Championships have attracted entries in the 420 class from Olivia Creasy, Adela Jiraskova, Patrick Bromilow, Tom Kelsall (RYA), Isobel Sandow and Ben Welfare (L&LSC). Racing started Monday 14/4/25, in torrential rain and strong winds. Isobel Sandow with HRH Princess Anne at Pwllheli at the TYA Youth National Championships |
| Sailing and Club Calendar |
What's on this week: Wednesday 16 April Gentleman's Lunch 12:30 - 14:00 W3 Fast Handicap 19:00 W3 Novice Handicap 19:03 W3 Slow Handicap 19:06 Thursday 17 April Ladies Lunch 12:30 - 15:00 Radio Sailing 14:00 W3 GP14 19:00 W3 Lightning 19:03 Friday 18 April Illusion 14:00 W5 & W6 Coached Racing - Feva 18:00 W5 & W6 Coached Racing - Optimist 18:03 Saturday 19 April Easter 1,2 & 3 Fast Handicap (L) 11:00 Easter 1,2 & 3 Novice Handicap (L) 11:03 Easter 1,2 & 3 Slow Handicap (L) 11:06 Sunday 20 April Easter 4,5 & 6 Fast Handicap (L), 11:00 Easter 4,5 & 6 Novice Handicap (L) 11:03 Easter 4,5 & 6 Slow Handicap (L) 11:06 Tuesday 22 April W4 & W5 SoloT, 19:00 W4 & W5 Laser / Laser R 19:04 W4 & W5 Illusion 19:07 Wednesday 23 April Gentleman's Lunch, 12:30 - 14:00 W4 & W5 Fast Handicap 19:00 W4 & W5 Novice Handicap 19:03 W4 & W5 Slow Handicap 19:06 |
| Training |
The Training Season started last week with sailing courses on a Monday evening for adults & for adults and children on a Saturday morning. From Monday 12th May anyone who would like to attend the adult training on an ad hoc basis is welcome, there will a play & pay charge for those wishing to use Club boats & it will be on a first-come basis. This will be run alongside the adult courses on a Monday evening. If you would just like to sail your own boat or hire a club boat, please come along and join in. The session will be from 6:30pm to 8:30pm and there will be food to buy after the session (main & pud for £7) which will have to be booked in advance. A couple of parents requested that, as they were bringing their children on a Saturday morning, could they also come down & take part in a course. The club now has training for adults & children on a Saturday morning from 9:00am to 12:00. The club has six new Dinghy Instructors who spent their first week of their Easter holidays with Alan Jones from the RYA brushing up their teaching skills before an external assessment on the last day, the weather was perfect. The new instructors are George Creasy, Jemima Riley, Olivia Creasy, Ollie Nixon, Patrick Bromilow & Stuart DHenin well done. Two secondhand Topper Argos have been bought for Training which will be used to instruct adults as well as being sailed at club events. A big thank you to Mike Hartley & Mike De St Paer for going to see the boats & bringing them back to WKSC. Michele New Argo  Please book online through SCM & if you need any help please email Training@WKSC.org.uk Click HERE to book your training course.  |
| Events |
The Ceilidh last year was such a success we are having another. If you missed it, you missed a fantastic time. It was a great event to have fun and meet new people. Everyone is welcome. Whether you want to put on your dancing shoes and join in, or just watch the fun, come down and join us. We have a Ceilidh band and caller to talk us through all the dances. Food included in the ticket. Get your tickets at the Bar.  Greek Mama Mia Night - Saturday 24th May Buy your tickets by clicking here  Salsa Night - Saturday 14th June Buy your tickets by clicking here  |
| Other Information |
Galley on Friday Menu- click here |
| Boats for Sale |
Boat Parts - - Complete set of fittings, rigging etc for an Enterprise Dinghy.Click here for more details - Mariner 2hp two stroke engine complete with handbook and fuel can Telephone: Malcolm 07812641979 Boats for sale - - NEW - Hunter Duette 23ft Racer - GP 14 Click here to view Boats for Sale |
| If you would like something added to the newsletter please contact newsletter@wksc.org.uk |
Last updated 09:40 on 16 April 2025