Newsletter 05 11 25
Published 15:00 on 5 Nov 2025
Welcome to WKSC Newsletter. |
| A great 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 |
| A massive well done to the huge amount of people who did such a fantastic effort with the Fireworks! Headed by Tom Price, the event was planned and coordinated by Peter Williams, Keiran Inman and his Team set off the Fireworks (and how good were they! Fantastic!). And we must say many thanks to the House and Bar Gang and the Catering Posse. But also to all the Stewards and Safeguarding Team who kept us all safe! Also a massive thank you to all who helped clean the boatyard. Somewhere near 10% of the Club had an active role in running the event. This is just fantastic! If I have missed a group off, please accept my humble apologies. Over £3000 was raised for Hoylake and West Kirby Lifeboats at the event.
Sunday saw the fabulous send off for Milo and Beryl Parry. It was so nice to see so many lovely people there to wish them well. Beryl and Milo have been members for as long as you would care to remember, along with their daughters Alex and Katie. They hosted many a grand party over the years and it was great to see them off in similar form! I'm sure you will all join me in wishing them a safe journey out there! Stay in touch! Remembrance Sunday Service will be on the screen at the Club. Those who go to the service at the War Memorial on the hill are welcome to go to the Club after for our usual gathering. Chris |
| News & Notices |
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No Food available from the Galley on Friday evening. Due to unforeseen circumstances food will not be available this Friday (7th Nov). Members are welcome to order a takeaway to the Club if they wish. Sorry for any issues this may cause. RYA Guidelines on Inclusive Language West Kirby Sailing Club follows the RYA Guidelines on Inclusive Language including valuing everyone's identity and ensuring that language reflects respect for everyone's identity within the Club, this includes age, gender, background and experiences.We kindly ask all members to be mindful of how we present ourselves—both as a club and as individuals. Firstly, thank you to those who are helping to challenge inappropriate behaviour in the Club, making safeguarding a matter for everyone and a shared responsibility. Secondly, we want to be clear: any language or behaviour that makes members, staff, or visitors feel unwelcome will not be tolerated. Formal disciplinary action will be taken if conduct is found to violate Club or RYA guidelines. Click here to be taken to the Safeguarding section on our website. Tomorrow 7pm - Jean Meakin - Our Amazing English Language Everyone is welcome, just turn up and grab a drink and a seat! Liverpool Seafarers Centre Donations As some of you may know I am the Chair of the North West Port Welfare Committee. We serve all the Ports from Holyhead, to Silloth (including the Isle of Man). Each year, headed by the Liverpool Seafarers Centre, we have a drive to get Christmas presents for the 750, or so, Sailors who visit Ports in our region. If anyone has any old unwanted presents or anything they would like to give, it would be most welcome. The other things we are looking out for, is Men's winter coats and also old luggage (even if the wheels are broken) - (please put any lock codes or keys inside the cases). If you can donate, can you please bring items to the Club and I will arrange for them to be taken to the Seafarers Centre. We will hopefully do this each year, so bear it in mind for your spring clear-out! Chris Gatenby 1st - £60 Sue Corkhill 2nd - £40 Lynne Pengelly 3rd - £30 John Watkin 4th - £20 Tessa Gibson On the last Friday of each month there is a draw for the 200 Club. This is a fundraiser for the WKSC. Members of the 200 club pay a subscription of £2 per month which funds the prizes, with the balance used to aid WKSC. To join the 200 Club email Bob Jarvis on bobjarv@yahoo.co.uk Lost Property LOST PROPERTY will be displayed in the foyer this weekend. Anything not taken will be disposed of. Contributions for items that are not yours may be put in the RNLI box on the bar! Thanks, Anne de St Paer Helen's next delicious lunch is on the 23rd November. If you would like to attend put your name down at the bar and select your menu choice.  Club Trophies - Time to return. Please would all you talented trophy winners return them to the Sailing Club as soon as possible so they can be engraved prior to the prize giving on 22nd November. Please leave them in the office or behind the bar. Thank you Debbie Lowndes. |
| Galley |
The Galley on Friday Closed this Friday. |
| Sailing Matters |
I had to resort to my diary to remind me of all activities of the last week. I report on them here in chronological order. My diary writing is becoming a bit hit and miss so if you feel outraged that I have missed some relevant sailing matter please shout at the Rear Commodore Sailing (Mike Hartley) and he'll take as much notice of you as I will…. the only problem is we are both forgetful and I'm going deaf so its no good shouting at me. Thursday 30/10/25 17:30 to 19:00 The Mirror Working Group was attended by eleven people (11 !). Most attendees were avid enthusiasts rather than workers it has to be admitted but at this stage in the project enthusiasts are an important component. This group included several junior members, their parents and/or guardians. They made the tea and provided doughnuts - (they did not but their training will begin soon !). The serious group were sanding Cmon Eileen, a white Mirror dinghy donated to the project. A second Mirror, red, no name as yet, purchased from a Redesmere SC sailor living in Wilmslow and collected from Wilmslow earlier in the day, was on display. This Mirror requires very little work before she hits the water. Paint stripping  Thursday 30/10/25 19:00 Commodores talk on Liverpool Pilotage and other related topics I'd had a busy day and after the Mirror working group I wandered home completely forgetting our Commodores talk at 19:00 on Liverpool Pilotage which I regret missing… I had been looking forward to it as well. Its even worse when everybody tells me how good it was. Isnt there a recording or a playback button ? Saturday 1/11/25 Rear Commodore Sailing presenting to 5 University Team Racing Clubs on boat maintenance. Mike Hartley informed and entertained Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and York University sailors on boat maintenance with special focus on Fireflies. There were lively demonstrations of fibreglass mould making, repairing holes, sanding, painting and polishing, understanding polyester and epoxy resins taking into account their handling requirements to health and safety standards, avoiding lager contamination of your resin mix and so on. The audience was hanging on Mikes every word and when he paused for a break they would have none of it … they wanted no time wasting until they had extracted as much from the session as they could. Past Commodore Jean-Louis Simons took charge of a working party to clean up the boat yard A working party (a cast of many - names unrecorded) dressed appropriately for a clean up descended on the boat park for a mornings work. Theres more to do of course but you could see the difference afterwards. Another past Commodore - Helen Brown provided refreshments for the workers afterwards all very well and thankfully received. Saturday morning Boat Park working group under Jean-Louis Simons  That working party again  The Introduction to Racing Group Meanwhile the Sailing Secretary, Tony Marston, provided entertainment by way of the YouTube streaming of Race 3 of the 18ft Skiff Sydney Harbour Spring Championships in the Macdona Room. He had decided that this was better than going afloat this Saturday morning on account of the gusty conditions - at West Kirby not Sydney Harbour. Sunday 2/11/25 Lake Racing: Frostbite 3 & 4 Fast and Slow Handicap RO David Caldwell ARO Henk Thomas Supported by Sailing Secretary. The forecast for lighter conditions on Sunday than on Saturday wasnt accurate. The breeze freshened up nicely for the second race and the wind direction swung a little more westerly making life a little more difficult for the RO. How can you set a beat to windward when the wind is blowing straight across the lake ? You cant unless you have a committee boat. But the race team had a go. Good on them for trying. They certainly put their best effort into it despite not having much experience of race management. A special thanks to Henk Thomas who volunteered to help David Caldwell who had never attempted an RO duty before. Henk was the only volunteer who answered the call.
Sadly Mike and Anne St Paer, sailing their Heron in the Slow Handicap had no competition but enjoyed the sail. Where are all the Mirrors they cried… good call, we (Mirror sailors) are slow off the mark for this winter sailing but well join you as soon as we can. A good turn out for Sunday morning racing.  Gybe Ho  The only competitor in the Slow Handicap Race  Some good weather at last for Sunday Morning racing encouraged a good turnout of over 20 boats, nearly 30 boats counting the University team racing training group.  Farewell to Beryl and Mylo Parry Later on Sunday afternoon a very good crowd of members wished Beryl and Mylo Parry farewell before they emigrate to Australia in a weeks time. Good to see Alex Parry briefly who had come over to help her Mum and Dad in the final preparations before departure. Mylo sailed in Stars and Falcons and was the main stay in support of the Cadet Fleet for many years, taking kids all over the country to events and looking after them all. Back home Mylo and Beryl would put up visiting Cadet sailors anywhere they could to give all concerned a great time…. something we miss enormously but we havent forgotten and are going to try very hard to put right in the near future with the Mirror Project. We will miss you all and wish you well in Australia. COMING UP: Thursday 6/11/25 17:30 - 19:00 Mirror Working Party in the shed 19:00 A talk by Jean Meakin on the English language. Saturday 8/11/25 Special Tidal Event HW 12:149.23 Mtrs Weather forecast as at Wednesday 5/11/25 consistent across Met Office, XCW, Windy: SW to SSW 7 to 12 kts easing to 5 to 6 kts The objective is to encourage as many sailors to compete as possible. All Introduction to Racing Group sailors are invited to take part. See information posted to WhatsAp group. Volunteers are required to help on the tidal slipway. Sailing Instructions The probability is that there will be two races started from the boat park, first race start not before 10:30. All classes starting together, start procedure 3,2,1, Go, under code flag W. Start / Finish line between mast flying WKSC burgee and start / finish mark laid off the boat park. Start in a southerly direction leaving start / finish mark to starboard. Assuming wind forecast is correct a large pillar buoy will be laid approximately 1 mile to windward. Leave this buoy to port. Then to the Start / Finish Mark leaving it to port, then to Pillar buoy to port and so on till S Flag is flown. Finish through the line leaving start / finish buoy to port. This will be an average lap time race. Slow boats may only complete one lap dependent upon conditions. A second race will be conducted in the same manner if the weather permits. There will be a prize for the winner of each race on WKSC PYs and overall if two races completed. There will be a prize for the first Novice and Junior for each race completed on WKSC PYs and overall if two races completed. Therell be a prize for the youngest competitor and for the oldest competitor if they complete a race. All competitors are asked to complete an entry on a sheet available in the club house. Competitors are asked to watch and listen out for any change to Sailing Instructions signalled by code flag L being flown from the main club mast and with a long horn sound signal. A change in Sailing Instructions is only likely to occur with a significant change in the weather from that forecast. The prize giving will be at a time and date to be announced in the Newsletter Sailing Matters but will not be on Saturday 8/11/25. Thursday 13/11/25 17:30 -19:00 Mirror Project Working Group 19:00 Singing Sea Shanties Saturday 15/11/25 10:00 - 12:00 Introduction to Racing Sunday 16/11/25 Lake Racing Frostbite 5&6 First start 11:00 For Fast Handicap, Novice handicap & Slow Handicap Thursday 20/11/25 17:30 -19:00 Mirror Project Working Group 19:00 - Tony Marston talking about The WKSC Mirror Project Saturday 22/11/25 10:00 Introduction to Prize Giving 19:30 Annual Prize Giving Sunday 23/11/25 Lake Racing Frostbite 7&8 First start 11:00 For Fast Handicap, Novice handicap & Slow Handicap Thursday 27/11/25 17:30 - 19:00 Mirror Project Working Group 19:00 Club Music Night Sunday3 30/11/25 Lake Racing Frostbite 9&10 First start 11:00 For Fast Handicap, Novice handicap & Slow Handicap Tony Martson Sailing Secretary Click here for the link to the SAILING MATTERS section |
| Sailing and Club Calendar |
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What's on this week:
Wed 5 Nov 12:30 14:00 Gentleman's Lunch Wed 5 Nov 20:00 Quiz Thu 6 Nov 14:00 Radio Sailing Class Thu 6 Nov 17:00 22:00 Thursday Talks & Tunes Entertainment Fri 7 Nov 14:00 Illusion Class Sat 8 Nov Special Tidal Event All Classes (T) Club Sat 8 Nov 10:00 13:00 Training Training Sun 9 Nov Remembrance Sunday Mon 10 Nov 20:00 GC11 Committee Wed 12 Nov 12:30 14:00 Gentleman's Lunch |
| Training |
Courses planned for next year will be updated soon. |
| Events |
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Thursday Talks and Tunes - Tomorrow
Everyone is welcome. Just turn up on the night, grab a drink, take a seat and enjoy the evening. Following the success of Thursday Talks last winter we're back with a bang (literally)! We've introduced music to the mix. Music Night is experimental - so if you play an instrument bring it down, you can play on your own or with friends, or just see who's in the room that knows whatever you're playing. You can sing too and join in. Or simply enjoy the live music with a drink and friends. Sea Shanties is a bit of fun with raucous singing (or shouting!) and a trip down memory lane. Don't worry if you don't know the words; our shantyman (Ben) will sing a line, and everyone else will (hopefully) respond in unison. Talks - Come down and learn more about your fellow members; with Topics from our English Language to Outer space! Keep an eye out for the posters telling you what is on each month. Jean Meakin - Our Amazing English Language - Tomorrow - Thursday 6th November  Snooker  Fixtures 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) Wednesday Winter Quiz - 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. Helen's Sunday Roasts  WKSC Christmas Fair - Saturday 15th November 12-5pm - Open to the Public Our Christmas Fair returns this year. A great event to shop local and get some fantastic early Christmas presents. Please share the details.  Junior Christmas Party with Santa's Grotto - Saturday 13th December - On sale now Father Christmas will be paying a visit to WKSC - get your tickets early to avoid disappointment! Click here to get your tickets  |
| 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 17:03 on 5 November 2025