Newsletter 08 10 25
Published 20:00 on 8 Oct 2025
Welcome to WKSC Newsletter. |
| This week the Club held its Annual Ball. Plus 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 |
| Well, the Annual Ball was an absolute wheeze! I hope, enjoyed by all! Great food and dancing to the small hours! Sorry for those who couldn't get tickets, but we had to close the book due to the Caterers needing numbers. Better luck next time!
Many thanks to my step Dad, John Morley, who provided the Port, we all raised a glass to you YJ! In Royal Naval parlance, BZ VMT Shipwreck! (Brilliant, Very Many Thanks, Old Friend!). Thanks to Ali Pharaoh for saying so many 'kind' words about me in her speech. Everyone knows a whole lot more about me now... Main Room set up for the dinner.  Dinner in full flow.  Smart Bar Staff.  Storm Amy came and went. Sorry to see 2 boats, Andy Hilyard's and Caz & Adie's go for a wander. Andy's somewhat miraculously grounded herself to our slipway, where she was whipped out in short order, and Caz and Adie's made a bid for Sheldrakes, beaching in the mud on the way. Whilst some damage was incurred, I hope both sets of owners are happy that it wasn't a lot worse. The last boats are due to come up in lighter winds, as it looks good over the weekend, weather wise. Great to see an embryonic Mirror fleet assembling. My eldest asked whether she could join the gang. Happy days! Chris |
| News & Notices |
Child Protection in Sport Unit WKSC supporting the NSPCC in partnership with Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) from 6-12th October.The NSPCC, in partnership with CPSU, is leading a campaign to help parents and carers better support young people in sport—including sailing. The initiative encourages families to reflect on how they support their children before, during, and after time on the water, and to have open conversations about what kind of encouragement helps young sailors feel safe, confident, and motivated. By promoting a positive and respectful sailing environment, we can help young athletes thrive both on and off the water. Find out more here: Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport campaign for parents or contact safeguarding at WKSC. On the last Friday of each month there is a draw for the 200 Club. This is a fundraiser for WKSC. Members of the 200 club pay a subscription of £2 per month which funds the prizes, with the balance used to aid WKSC. The prizes on an average month are: 1st Prize £60 2nd Prize £40 3rd Prize £30 4th Prize £20 Twice a year (February and September) the prizes are higher (£300, £200, £100 and £50 respectively). Every month the first and second prize are awarded to the first two numbers drawn, but for the third and fourth prizes you need to be in the room. To join the 200 Club email Bob Jarvis on bobjarv@yahoo.co.uk WKSC - Winter Yard Storage As you can see the yard is currently full of boats, with a waiting list of dinghies eager to sail and Cruisers, Hilbres and Stars due to return in the next few weeks. We are delighted to see that the boatyard is so busy but the demand for yard space is now such that we need to prioritise spaces for members' boats that are sailed regularly. There is no point in having a yard full of boats that do not sail !Dinghies If you have finished sailing for the year please take your boat home and confirm this by emailing boatstorage@wksc.org.uk. We can then release your space for others who wish to continue sailing into the winter. If you have not sailed this year please consider keeping your boat at home. A refund of 30% of your annual yard fee paid will be available in respect of dinghies that leave the yard by end September, on prompt request to boatstorage@wksc.org.uk. There is no refund for lake licences which are already heavily discounted. In line with a lot of Clubs with limited space, we are also considering dinghy racking for next year and will be liaising with the Class Captains to obtain members' views. Falcons If you can take your boat home at the end of the Autumn Series please do so and email boatstorage@wksc.org.uk as soon as possible to confirm so we can manage the space. Cruisers We are endeavouring to find space for all cruisers that were in the yard last winter but if you have not launched your boat this year and can store it elsewhere that would also be much appreciated. As always the yard will be congested in September and October so please bear with us. Any queries please email boatstorage@wksc.org.uk or speak to your Class Captain, Mike Hartley (Rear Comm Sailing), Sam Riley (Captain), Tony Marston (Sailing Sec), Jean-Louis Simons (Yard Manager) or Andy Hillyard (Boatman) Thank you for helping us to manage the yard to benefit as many members as possible. Mike Hartley (Rear Commodore Sailing) Snooker  The snooker season starts in earnest on 15 October with a home match against the mighty Hoylake Sailing Club. If there is anybody out there that can pot a red followed by perhaps a colour, then please get in touch with us as we would welcome any new blood to the squad. Practice starts in October too and details of dates and time will be provided. Fixtures 22 Oct Wallasey YC Home 29 Oct Hoylake SC - Home 26 Nov Dee SC Away 03 Dec Hoylake SC Away (Billiards) 07 Jan Wallasey YC Away 21 Jan Hoylake SC - Away 04 Mar Dee SC -Home 18 Mar Hoylake SC Home (Billiards) Many thanks Chris & Jonti Booth 07717511899 & 07778 411675 Wednesday Winter Quiz returns - Every Wednesday 8pm  Absolutely everyone is welcome. Get a new team together or turn up and join one. The quiz is a great way to stay social over the winter months, so please try and support it. Bill Williams Trophy - Have you been cruising this year? As the season draws to a close I think it's time to think about the Bill Williams Trophy. The trophy is awarded for "the best log submitted for a cruise or cruises under the WKSC burgee in 2025". Never submitted a log before? Have a go this year. Submit the log to the President who is the adjudicator. If you want more information or guidance ask the President. He is always keen to help. Closing date for entries is the 5th December and the trophy will be presented at the AGM. Helen's Sunday Roasts are back!! - 26th October - Sign up at the bar.  Merchandise Some of our older stock is currently on sale. Pop down to the Club and see if anything takes your fancy.Also Christmas is coming.... get your presents at the Club! |
| Galley |
The Galley on Friday Helen is providing a delicious menu this week. Click here for the menu |
| Sailing Matters |
Storm Amy Last weekends sailing was lost to adverse weather. Storm Amy blew through with wind speeds of 40 Knots + on Saturday, less on Sunday but still un-sailable. Our Boatman Andy and members of the Hilbre and Star classes managed to haul out many Hilbres and Stars on the Friday before the onset of the storm. Kymin, a Southerly 28, decided herself, that a storm is an opportunity for a cruise and set off from the moorings on a southerly heading. Fortunately for Karen and Adie, Kymins owners, the marshes got in the way and she settled there having cleared both the West Kirby SC moorings, the Dee SC moorings and various fishing boats without damage to await recovery by messrs J.Burthem and J.Marston on Monday. Still on cruising … Safe passage to our cruising members returning home to WKSC at the end of the season…. don't forget to submit a log for consideration for the Bill Williams Trophy. Sailing Programme 2026 We are moving rapidly into the quieter months as far as sailing is concerned but not into hibernation. The Sailing Committee had the first look at the 2026 Sailing Programme last Monday evening. Tidal Class owners are still bringing their boats ashore and getting them tucked away in the shed. The Mirror Project…… The Mirror Project The Mirror Project has moved into Phase 2 after successfully completing Phase 1 this season. Two more Mirrors were acquired last week making ten (yes 10 !) either committed to the project or already acquired and in storage somewhere (but not at the club except for one). Two juniors recently stated that they want to race a Mirror because they EXPECT* to be able to race in a Mirror fleet at WKSC and that that they can sail with a crew. Class Captain *EXPECTations are important. Optimism comes from expectations and this is a crucial ingredient driving the Mirror Project. Class Captains are important drivers of their classes or they should be !!! Your Sailing Secretary, never to beaten on enthusiasm for sailing, will be expecting class captains to deliver the same enthusiasm to their classes and gain commitment for the winter racing (where appropriate) and for the 2026 season. Prize Giving The Annual Prize Giving for the 2025 seasons racing will be held on Saturday 22nd November as per the handbook. If you are holding a trophy please return it promptly to the office so that it can be engraved ready for the prize giving. Debbie Lowndes our Cup Bearer will be chasing up for the return of trophies… you wouldn't want to upset Debbie now would you ?! Coming Up …. This week-end has tidal racing on both Saturday and Sunday and the forecast is not too bad. No guarantees of course. Sailing Instructions will be available by Saturday morning. Sat 11/10/25 HW14:15 8.89 Mtrs Sun 12/10/25 HW15:07 8.34 Mtrs Volunteers welcome to assist the Race Officer either on land or on a committee boat both days. Situations Vacant: Administrative Assistant to Sailing Secretary. Voluntary position - Attributes: Good communication skills, IT savvy, a committed sailing enthusiast. Contact the Sailing Secretary. Americas Cup 1983 Mentioned in last weeks Sailing Matters and now up on the website in Sailing Matters. INTRODUCTION TO RACING Saturday 11/10/25 - EARLY START 09:00 Please note that the start time this coming Saturday for the 'Introduction to Racing' is 09:00. Please come ready to sail at 09.00. We will finish at 11:00 in time for tidal racing … should you wish !! If the weather forecast is accurate there will be a number of race starts and short races on the lake. Juniors will have their own start first under class flag V, adults will start under class flag W. Tony Martson Sailing Secretary Click here for the link to the SAILING MATTERS section |
| Sailing and Club Calendar |
What's on this week: Wed 8 Oct 12:30 14:00 Gentleman's Lunch Thu 9 Oct 14:00 Radio Sailing Class Fri 10 Oct 14:00 Illusion Class Sat 11 Oct Special Tidal Event All Classes Club Racing Sat 11 Oct 09:30 12:30 Saturday Mornings Adult Sailing Course. Training Sat 11 Oct 10:00 13:00 Training Training Sat 11 Oct 18:00 23:00 RNLI Fish & Chip Fundraiser Entertainment Sun 12 Oct Special Tidal Event All Classes Club Racing Wed 15 Oct 12:30 14:00 Gentleman's Lunch |
| Training |
Adult Training at WKSC  |
| Events |
WK RNLI Fish & Chip Fundraiser - Saturday 11th October - SOLD OUT! Halloween - Saturday 25th October - Tickets on sale behind the bar. The Boatshed of Horrors returns! A fantastic party for all our Juniors. All welcome. Tickets are on sale behind the bar, make sure you get yours early as this event sells out!  Fireworks - 1st November  WKSC Christmas Fair - Saturday 15th November 12-5pm Our Christmas Fair returns this year. A great event to shop local and get some fantastic early Christmas presents. Junior Christmas Party with Santa's Grotto - Save the date! - Saturday 13th December Father Christmas will be paying a visit to WKSC. |
| Other Information |
| Boats for Sale |
Boats for sale - Click here to view Boats for Sale |
| If you would like something added to the newsletter please contact newsletter@wksc.org.uk |
Last updated 10:10 on 22 October 2025