Newsletter 22 10 25

Three Oppies - free to a good home

If you are interested, please contact Jean- Louis Simons or the Office by end this week.

Beryl and Mylo's Party

TO ALL OUR FRIENDS AT WKSC Beryl and Mylo cordially invite you to: The Last night of the Pomms

Helen's Sunday Roasts are back - This Sunday - 26th October - Sign up at the bar

MENU

Merchandise

Im writing this on Wednesday morning. The sun is shining, SW breeze 6 knots, HW 12:07 8.84 Mtrs.  Perfect for a sail but I cant for various reasons. That is rather typical. There are opportunities but the windows are limited. Last weekend was like that. The Introduction to Racing group took to the water (lake) in the morning for a good session but by Sunday morning it was blowing 30 knots…. so no racing possible. 

A recent quiet spell has enabled many of the cruising fleet to be recovered into the boat yard. If you wander into the boat sheds, which you should do, by the way, because its an education, there are two interesting building projects underway. Two boats built in the 1950s by Fairey Marine. Hot moulded (I think). One of them, Finn 37 is being re-decked by Mike Hartley  and David Bromilow is re-decking Firefly 934 - this is going to have the MkIV deck layout. Should be interesting to follow the progress of these two boats. 

According to a past commodore this is the best boat in the shed ! 

The 1950's Firefly and Finn being worked on by Messrs Bromilow and Hartley with distraction from a past it commodore !

1950's Finn

The far shed has all the Hilbres and Stars. Though both classes have suffered a decline in numbers in recent years they are still going and much care and attention will be given to these boats over the winter months.

There are other boats being worked on and I hope to bring you news on all shed work as the winter progresses.

WEST KIRBY MIRROR DINGHY PROJECT

The WKSC Mirror Dinghy Project moves into gear in the first shed starting this Thursday (231025) evening 17:30 to 19:00 and continuing every Thursday evening throughout the winter.  Nobody knows about this yet (because I havent told anyone until now ! ).  We have had a good season in that Mirrors. They have been racing in the slow handicap racing on the lake. But plans are afoot for significant growth in 2026. In part winter shed work by Mirror dinghy enthusiasts will be a vital ingredient in starting the new season with 15 Mirror dinghies (thats the target) all sorted out to a standard that hopefully will ensure satisfaction. Targets are all well and good but will it happen? Keep visiting the shed to see !  

The project so far:  

2025

• Initiate the project.
• Increase Mirror Dinghy activity both racing and leisure sailing
• Encourage  junior sailors* to participate
• Re vitalise the slow handicap class* to include Mirror Dinghies
• Acquire (buy or be gifted Mirror dinghies ready for new owners for 2026 - 11 x Mirrors so far !!! - they are not at the club yet).
• Develop the project, gain support by talking it up, explaining the approach and phases to the project.

Two more Mirrors, not at the club yet, but destined for the WKSC MIRROR PROJECT.

This is Cmon Eileen another Mirror and the first one of the WKSC MIRROR PROJECT awaiting Thursday evenings working long party to bring it up to standard. Mirror enthusiasts should come and join in 17:30 to 19:00

*JUNIOR SAILING

This is purely a personal view of Junior Sailing; you may agree or disagree and I really welcome your views. Why not start up thread on the FORUM? 

First and most important I recognise that Junior Sailing lacks numbers at WKSC. It doesnt matter why that has come about but it matters that we do something about it. 

It can be done in various way but essentially it involves parents (guardians) and grand parents getting involved. Training is already doing its bit by offering courses for juniors. 

The Mirror project obviously provides a major opportunity for increasing junior participation. I heard only this morning of a grandfather who has just bought a Mirror Dinghy to get his grandson going. Im not revealing his name at this stage -

As an aside - I was on an International Canoe jaunt a while back in Essex, visiting a builder of the Hadron dinghy (its like a single handed Merlin Rocket … hes also an IC builder and sailor). There was a beautiful new Hadron finished in yellow and blue, on its brand new combo trailer, covers all folded waiting for inspection by its new owner. I made comment about the boat to the builder. He said  Yes - hes Swedish, hence the colours,  Im waiting for him to collect it. It could be a while - he hasnt told his wife about it yet ! .  

I also recognise that the world has changed. I think its much harder for many parents to get involved in sailing than it was in previous eras. Equally I recognise that there are many other activities that children get involved in or worse still, are committed to. In order for us to be successful we have to break that mould …not that easy.

However, we live in a wonderful place which has the Marine Lake and the Dee Estuary and Hilbre Island and a host of other sailing places near to us all waiting to be explored and enjoyed. When the sun is up and theres a gentle breeze theres nothing quite like messing about in boats. 

Introduction to Racing Saturday 181025

The weather behaved well enough to allow the Intro to Racing group to get afloat last Saturday morning. The breeze was around 10 knots which meant giving those with less experience someone with more experience to help out so RS Fevas were the obvious choice of boat. The only problem was that too many folk were left getting cold on the jetty waiting for their turn. 

This didnt apply to those who were using their own boat. At this stage we arent recording results. Three short races were held with 7 boats completing the races. 

A start of one of the three races of the Introduction to Racing Group. 
It is the introduction .... which is why a number of boats are not in the picture ! 

Once again my time has run out. 

More next week.

Tony Martson

Sailing Secretary

Click here for the link to the SAILING MATTERS section

Courses planned for next year will be updated soon.

Boats for sale -