Newsletter 07 05 25
Published 13:00 on 7 May 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 |
Wow, just wow! What a weekend! The Wilson Trophy descended on the Club, guns blazing. Receptions, Dinners, Dark and Stormies...... and a new game called Leis (pronounced Liege) which looks a bit like Beer-Pong but is as close to it as West Kirby Dink is to Snooker. Rhys Parkey is our new Master-of-the-Paddle and will be giving instructions on the Table generously presented to us by the US Team East Coast Yacht Club, Boston. Anyway, I digress, back to the main event... I'm not going to go into a list of everyone who dug out to provide the top-level Event that it was as the list is too long, and I would hate to forget someone..... (still sorry Nick!)..... One thing I did hear from TR Champion, Andy Cornah was that, when he does events around the world, the most common retort he hears is, 'It's good, but it's not the Wilson'. Take a moment to digest that. That is no small praise. WE set the standard. All those days swatting on the rules for the Umpires, standing in the rain rigging boats, setting up the boatshed to be a banqueting hall, phoning round dozens of reluctant members trying to persuade them to have a team (or half...), setting up the sound system, fettling and gel coating boats, sweeping the yard.... and countless other tasks, Two words..... Worth it! 34 Teams, Umpires from the world over, the Mayor, our MP and hundreds of spectators who didn't event know they liked Team Racing until Jim Gaskin explained it to them. What's not to like? An unexpected ridge of High Pressure in the Atlantic sat to the west of Ireland to push the forecasted Cold Front over to the east, so we had unexpectedly fair weather. The wind was up and down making some hairy moments and a number of capsizes on the final day (Dan Booth captured an amazing sequence on film). The video and drone footage were live streamed and was watched in America by Wilson Alumni who couldn't make it (if you've not seen the drone footage, you should watch it, even if you don't fully understand it, it is quite beautiful!). See the link below: The competition was wide open in the early rounds, but George Jesters from RStGYC Dublin, went down fighting against Biscayne Bay YC Miami, our 2025 winners. It was a joy to watch. 'Happy Wilson!' And Relax..... Back into the real world, as the Boatshed is all beautified and set up as the Summer Pavilion, we are repeating last year's amazing Ceilidh. Music, callers (so you don't have to know how to do it*) and food. Tickets behind the bar, bring your family, bring guests, let's have some fun. *if you don't know how to do it, just watch Steve Longmore, and then you can feel really bad about not knowing how to do it. Get your tickets at the Bar or contact house@wksc.org.uk Best Regards from a broken Commodore. Wilson Trophy To see all the amazing Wilson Trophy photos from our incredible photographer Dan Booth on Facebook Click here |
| News & Notices |
Star Cygnus for Charter
Happy sailing. WKSC Star Association. |
| Galley |
The Galley on Friday Smash Bro Burgers are providing a fabulous menu this week. Click here to view the menu |
| Sailing Matters |
Please note there is no update to the 'Sailing Matters' on the WKSC website this week. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Wilson Trophy 2025 Friiday 2/5/25 - Sunday 4/5/25 A lot of folk are still in recovery mode after the Wilson Trophy racing from last Friday through to Sunday. Not surprising really, when you think there were 291 races and the team of folk to make that happen in two and half days is not insignificant. I was gathering a few more statistics from the weekend in trying to get my head round the whole thing: 204 x competitors There were 6 x teams from the USA competing: Rock City Cruising Club (Newport Harbour YC) Yale Corinthian YC (Brantford CT) and 1 USA teams in reserve: Irish Teams: National YC Royal St George Youth This to show the significant interest / importance from outside the UK for a this three day event ! A full list of all the teams on WKSC Wilson Trophy website - go explore ! This year Dan Booth produced great footage of the final which amplifies the great boat handling to be seen in the event. The footage also picks up Jim Gaskin's great commentary. All of which helps to understand the racing..... I need more though - a slow motion film with explanation as it all happens so fast. In particular one of the Jesters took a penalty turn just before the finish in one race but try as I might I couldn't see the incident that triggered the turns. The support from within the club is wonderful to behold. I am not going to produce a list of names but suffice to say it includes folk who provide accommodation for the teams, folk who get the Fireflies ready for their ordeal, folks who repair them during the event, folks who ready the boats for the teams for each race, starters, finishers, club members who cater ...constantly, bar staff the list goes on. There are sponsors, there are dignitaries and there are friends and associates who come to West Kirby every year for this unique event. Thanks to Dan Booth for the pics  Wilson Trophy 2025  Wilson Trophy 2025 drone shot in the light winds ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billy Wilson Pursuit Race Monday 5/5/25 Bank Holiday Monday straight after the Wilson Trophy attracted a surprising 16 x boat entry. Surprising because in these days of more accurate weather forecasting it's easy to be put off by an adverse forecast and it was an adverse forecast. A north easterly blowing across the lake from the town isn't inviting but this bunch of enthusiasts were not to be put off ! 10 x classes represented. The course included nearly every buoy in the lake in the hope that there might be a beat if the wind obliged. Mastering the conditions to take the win was Dan Skinner sailing an RS300. Liz Potter (D-Zero) got into second position but one of the big wind holes gave Andy and Liz Bell sailing their Albacore the opportunity to sneak around Liz to take second place. Liz was third with a Laser sailed by Tom Green fourth. Jude Stratton turned out early in the morning to put all the lake buoys back in position and recover all the Wilson buoys. She was rewarded for her efforts with a 5th place at the end of the 90 minute race. The Race team were hard pressed to record all the places as the fleet had become spread out round the lake at the end of the race. Complete results on wksc results Thanks to Alan Jenkins for the pics  Billy Wilson Pursuit Race  Top Juniors Sophie Gatenby & Amber Price  Jude Stratton racing her Lightening 5th in the Pursuit Race ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMING UP: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EVENING RACING LAST NIGHT ! WKSC Sailing Regulations, Sailing Instructions: Rule 2.2 'Eligibility requirements for boats are that they and their equipment must conform to the rules of their class association' - THAT INCLUDES SAIL NUMBERS !!!  Last Nights Laser Racing the good start. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tony Marston
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| Sailing and Club Calendar |
What's on this week: Wed 7 May 12:30 14:00 Gentleman's Lunch Wed 7 May 19:00 W8 & W9 Fast Handicap Club Racing Lake Wed 7 May 19:03 W8 & W9 Novice Handicap Club Racing Lake Wed 7 May 19:06 W8 & W9 Slow Handicap Club Racing Lake Thu 8 May 14:00 Radio Sailing Class Thu 8 May 16:00 18:00 Calday CCF (1st Course) 2025 Training Thu 8 May 19:00 W8 & W9 GP14 Club Racing Lake Thu 8 May 19:00 22:00 Star meeting Committee Thu 8 May 19:03 W8 & W9 Lightning Club Racing Lake Fri 9 May 14:00 Illusion Class Fri 9 May 18:00 W9 & W10 Coached Racing - Feva Club Racing Lake Fri 9 May 18:03 W9 & W10 Coached Racing - Optimist... Club Racing Lake Sat 10 May JUBILEE PURSUIT RACE All Classes (... Club Racing Sat 10 May 09:20 12:00 Saturday Junior Training RYA (1st Co... Training Sat 10 May 09:20 12:00 Saturday Morning Adult Beginners and... Training Sat 10 May 15:00 21:00 Ceilidh in the Summer Paviliion Entertainment Sun 11 May Solo Open Meeting (Tide/Lake) Club Racing Sun 11 May 09:30 Spring 5&6 St/Hi/Fa/IC Club Racing Sun 11 May 09:45 Spring Tide 5&6 Fast Handicap (T) Club Racing Sun 11 May 09:48 Spring Tide 5&6 Slow Handicap (T) Club Racing Sun 11 May 14:00 17:00 Falcon Meeting Committee Mon 12 May 18:30 20:30 Monday Night Adult Beginners and Imp... Training Tue 13 May 16:00 18:00 Calday School (1st Course) 2025 Training Tue 13 May 19:00 W10 & W11 Solo Club Racing Lake Tue 13 May 19:04 W10 & W11 Laser / Laser R Club Racing Lake Tue 13 May 19:07 W10 & W11 Illusion Club Racing Lake Wed 14 May 12:30 14:00 Gentleman's Lunch Entertainment Wed 14 May 19:00 W10 & W11 Fast Handicap Club Racing Lake Wed 14 May 19:03 W10 & W11 Novice Handicap Club Racing Lake Wed 14 May 19:06 W10 & W11 Slow Handicap Club Racing Lake |
| Training |
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. Please book online through SCM & if you need any help please email Training@WKSC.org.uk Click HERE to book your training course. |
| Events |
THIS SATURDAY Ceilidh in the Summer Pavillion - Saturday 10th May 4pm 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 or contact house@wksc.org.uk Or click here to buy tickets  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 |
| 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 - West Kirby Star Number 11 Mars - 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 15:50 on 7 May 2025