Newsletter 09 07 25

The windy weather has continued to cause too many race postponements. Weather forecast apps on mobile phones have the effect of putting members off driving to the club if the forecast is for adverse conditions.... quite understandable if you are driving from some way away. BUT there's a couple of problems with this.... the first is the forecasts aren't always right and the second that we aren't challenging ourselves in windy weather on what is a perfect bit of water (the marine lake ) for having a go in a blow ! It's tougher for the tidal classes.

The Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy - Ullswater Yacht Club
The forecast for last week-end wasn't great here at West Kirby or at Ullswater where two of our Falcons were enetered for the annual Lord Birkett Trophy. Fortunately the adverse forecast didn't come to fruition at Ullswater and both days racing went ahead in much tamer conditions than expected. The maxmum 230 boat entry was achieved although it was around 210 boats that actually raced. Mind you thats a lot of boats on a starting line ! No wonder there were four general recalls on Saturday !  We are attempting to attach a video clip to give you a feel for what such a fleet looks like. (video clip by Colin Brown of Ullswater YC ).

Jonathan Atkinson, Terri and Sam Murphy sailing Falcon 'Nighthawk' and Care Wright, David and Hollie Wright sailing Falcon 'Sooty' enjoyed the weekend's experience in this great race.  

The first six months of the year are behind us along with the longest day. This gives us an opportunity to look back at the sailing statistics and reflect on any trends which we will do. We now look forward to the summer months, hopefully improving weather, holidays, championships, open events and the plan ..... Sailing Programme for 2026 which I've started working on. The Lightning and Laser Classes have their open events this month and we look forward to welcoming plenty of visitors from both classes.  

420 & 470 Junior European Championship at Matosinhos, Porto, Portugal

420 Teams:  Isobel Sandow, Edie Rogers, and Olivia Creasy, Adela Jiraskova and Patrick Bromilow, Tom Kelsall and 
470 team David Bromilow and Freya Sewell from West Kirby SC are on their way soon to compete in the Junior European Championships. The 420's Juniors are under 19's and the 470's under 24's. We wish them the best of luck.

Jean-Louis Simons  is competing in the French Finn Championships starting 12/7/25 at Douarnenez (south of Brest). Good luck JLS.

LAKE RACING
Breeze up for Wednesday's handicap racing with a consequential dop in boat numbers (as mentioned previously) but that didn't put off Julia Neal (2000) and Andrew Potter (Phantom) who had a win and a second place each. Steve Shallcroft had a win in the 
Laser Radial (and a retirement but we wont take any notice of that !) and Richard Neale two seconds

The night before in lighter winds it was Tom James and Jon Haley who were taking a win and a second each in the Lasers.  

John Dixon took two wins in the Solo class as did Peter Williams in the Illusions.

Mike De St Paer dominated the DF95 radio sailing on Thursday afternoon with six wins and two seconds. DF95 radio racing comprises of many short races and a lot of walking back and forth up and down the outer lake wall. 

Kieron and Nicci Inman recorded two wins on Thursday evening in the GP's, so too Judith Carter in the Lightnings.

Sunday's Lake Handicap Racing.... the wind forecast was more accurate for West Kirby than for Ullswater (see above) so breeze up again, competitor numbers down .... urghhhh !!!  But well done none the less to Harry Pye sailing his RS Aero 7. I'll just take this opportunity to say a warm welcome to Harry who has recently joined WKSC. Two seconds for James Douglas sailing a Laser Radial.

That wraps up the Lake racing other than to thank Alan jenkins for two good pictures of Illusions racing last night.

Training
Michele Noronha reports good numbers in the adult training on Monday night; reasonable to assume then that we could be busy in the autumn Introduction to Racing Group. Ditto for the 'Tiddlers' group on Saturday afternoon. It's up to us all to help all these good folk - little and large, to widen their experience in sailing .... summer time is for sailing adventures.

.....The Falcon Story continued....

Previously I mentioned (but all from Heather Tennant) the prototype Falcon which in 1954 went on display at West Kirby SC regatta in causing quite a stir. From there to Hoylake SC yet more interest and orders and then to the Mersey in the autumn where she underwent trials. She was on a single mooring north of New Brighton stage where during a storm she broke away, was found and rescued by a ship and towed back so quickly that the transom was ripped out and she sank. A crane was used to lift her and the bottom fell out. She was used as a 'play ship' in Harry Dennis's garden by his children.

Harry used to tow the hulls up from the Hamble. he got caught speeding on two occasions ! Sid Higgins was due to deliver Harry's new boat to Beaumaris for the Menai Straits Regattas in 1955. The builders packed 'Falcon' the new boat into a furniture van. The van wasn't wide enough so 'Falcon' was loaded in on her side. In order for Harry Dennis and Harry Jones (the West Kirby SC boatman) to get her out the side of the furniture van had to be removed !  

Lets hope for some tidal racing to report on -  this coming Sunday and I hope to sail the Mirror this evening. have a good week.
 

Tony Marston  Sailing Secretary