Newsletter 28 05 25

What a month …MAY - I'll sum up - High Pressure - Fine and sunny - until it wasn't, then too windy - back to UK normal.

Busy ? Oh yes we've been busy - doing what ? Not all of it helping towards Rule 1 …. Encouraging the Sport of Sailing…..

So what can do ?   Keep Calm and Carry On … GO SAILING.

A WEEK IN REVIEW

Wednesday Evening Handicap Racing. The start of series X. The breeze was up which more than halved the Fast Handicap fleet to five competing. The number of spectators was up in reverse proportion!  Dan Skinner won the first race (see pic Lift Off) in acrobatic style. My young 8 year old crew was impressed quite rightly. Glyn Purnell won the second race in his Laser Radial. The Slow Handicap fleet was dominated by team Magic - Tony Marston and Oliver Adams (8). This duo representing the opposite range of the age spectrum, which only only the sport of sailing can provide, sailed two flawless races winning both with time to spare. There was only one boat competing in the slow handicap.

Lift Off Dan Skinner RS300

One Mirror Tony Marston and Oliver Adams

GPs and Lightnings on Thursday night. Seven GPs competing on a pleasant evening, blue skies and a light breeze. Kieron and Niccie Inman winning both races. Amy Watkin sailing her Lightning had, like the Mirror in the slow handicap on the previous evening, to put up with sailing round the course on her own…. still good to get out on the water. (See pic GPs on Thursday night).

GPs on Thursday Evening

Fevas and Optimists on Friday Evening. I am ashamed to report that this week there were none. This wonderful facility - this theatre of dreams, as the West Kirby Marine Lake has been described for the Wilson Trophy - has for many decades provided the most perfect water for youngsters to learn and develop their sailing skills, is suddenly quiet when it comes to junior racing. This can not be allowed to continue. Its not mandatory for young folk to go sailing but it is natural for many young folk to want to go sailing. There are many more distractions in todays world, that sailing is an expensive past time, then there's climate change…. Never mind all that - SAILING IS MORE THAN SPECIAL - 

It is a lifetime of adventure stimulating mental skills, physical challenge, community, self awareness, technical ability, communication skills - I could go on at some length. There are no limits to SAILING - Simply start SAILING at West Kirby Sailing Club and the world is your oyster.

We will enable new families to break through into this wonderful world of SAILING. That's a promise. BUT that needs all of us members to talk up West Kirby Sailing Club and get our children, grand children, friends and families introduced to SAILING. 

The Saturday Morning High Winds Training session - arranged at short notice to take account of the forecast for just the right conditions, was better than expected despite the fact that we didn't get the High Winds forecasted or the wind direction we had ordered ! Be prepared for any eventuality. I was prepared for failure but in the two hours available the conditions changed giving those that were taking part, of various sailing skill levels, a chance to gain plenty both on the water and from the de briefing from folk who have the experience and were observing the individual efforts. That's the magic of club community spirit. Thank you to all the support team.  

The weather changed and Sundays racing was blown off. 

It was better on the Bank Holiday Monday. Many were looking forward to the MOSTYN RACE. Neil Marsden and Olivia Creasy did manage to get out on the estuary. The wind was down from Sunday but the sea state remained rough and more wind was forecast - conditions just not right to send a significant mixed fleet across the estuary alas. There's a chance that the MOSTYN RACE WILL BE SAILED THIS COMING SATURDAY 31/5/25 - Start 14:00 HW 15:00 8.2 Mtrs. PLEASE email results@wksc.org.uk if you intend to race. Sailing Instruction will be available on WhatsApp groups, website and on the day at the clubhouse.

I haven't caught up with Tuesday nights racing yet or the Junior Fun Week but will endeavour to report on both events next week.

LAKE LICENSE - We are obliged to have a license to use the lake. A Request for Payment has been emailed or will be emailed to members who can use the lake. Full details in the email. Please help the club by acting upon the REQUEST FOR PAYMENT.

WEST KIRBY REGATTA 2025

A poster or posters will be found in all the usual places (!) including this Newsletter - if all goes to plan. 

Your Sailing Secretary envisages a Regatta Day whereby if the weather is conducive to mass sailing participation then we will have two rectangular courses one inside the other. The size of the courses will be dependant upon the strength of the wind. Two committee boats will be positioned on the course requiring competitors to cross through a start/ finish line on each lap. The handicap classes will be racing using average lap times. Great opportunities for photography. Please remember this is a local regatta not Olympic standard racing; the object is enjoyment and supporting the club. There will be racing for junior sailors on the lake.

If the conditions are hostile to mass sailing participation then there's a plan to provide racing for the more experienced sailor if sailing is at all possible and other sailing challenges on the lake. All sorts of fun activities and interesting features will attract your interest in the sheds. And of course FOOD and LIQUID REFRESHMENT will be available.

Your Sailing Secretary is looking for non sailors to help in the two race teams, a special non sailing experienced racer to be one of the Race Officers and of course all of you sailors to enjoy the day racing in WEST KIRBY SAILING CLUB REGATTA 2025. 

Race Team volunteers contact anthonymarston@sky.com  

Please note that the ROUND HILBRE RACE will be on the Friday 27th June, the day before West Kirby SC Regatta 28/6/25 and 

DEE SAILING CLUB REGATTA will be on Sunday 29/6/25 - more details to follow. Three days of great racing.

Next Week : What do you know about Falcons ?  (Not the ones that flap about).

Tony Marston  Sailing Secretary