Newsletter 17 12 25
Published 17:00 on 17 Dec 2025
Welcome to WKSC Newsletter. |
| 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. The Newsletter will be taking a break for Christmas next week. ..# |
A View from the Bridge Hello all, sorry I've not been on, it's been a little busy recently with home, work, family and seasonal illness! The Club Yard just gets better and better, thanks to all who have been digging out to make it look so good! What an amazing group of volunteers - people like you really make the Club work. Whilst we're on a roll, many thanks to everyone who gave suitcases and jackets to the Seamans Centre in Liverpool. I went over there yesterday to drop the latest batch to them. They were so very thankful and praised the quality of WKSC cast offs! All of the jackets have been given away to thankful sailors and half of the luggage has found a new home. To all who have donated, rest assured, it has gone to a good home, and you have made a massive difference to people who have so very little. So, I will hopefully see you at the last Thursday night speech of the year, this Thursday, 18 December at 7:30pm. I will be doing the talk on the Merchant Navy in the Battle of the Atlantic with a special link to WKSC and an explanation of why I'm doing this in the first place. Sunday sees the Carol Concert 1pm in the Main Room. Supported by the amazing Salvation Army Band and followed by modern Christmas Hits. Come and bring your best singing voices for mulled wine and mince pies, even if it's just to see GC make complete fools of themselves doing the 12 days of Christmas. Finally I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Chris |
| Sailing and Club Calendar - What's on this week and next: |
Gentleman's Lunch Wednesday 17 December, 12:30 - 14:00 Quiz Wednesday 10 December 20:00 Ladies Lunch Thursday 18 December, 12:30 - 15:00 Radio Sailing Thursday 18 December, 14:00 Thursday Talks & Tunes - 7pm - Convoy! Thursday 18 December, 17:00 - 22:00 Illusion Friday 19 December, 14:00 Training Saturday 20 December, 10:00 - 13:00 Solo Christmas Dinner Saturday 20 December, 19:00 - 23:00 Christmas 3 & 4 Fast Handicap (L) Sunday 21 December, 11:00 Christmas 3 & 4 Novice Handicap (L) Sunday 21 December, 11:03 Christmas 3 & 4 Slow Handicap (L) Sunday 21 December, 11:06 Christmas Carols Sunday 21 December, 13:00 - 15:00 Gentleman's Lunch Wednesday 24 December, 12:30 - 14:00 Boxing Day Race All Dinghy Classes (L) Friday 26 December Training Saturday 27 December, 10:00 - 13:00 Christmas 6 & 7 Fast Handicap (L) Sunday 28 December, 11:00 Christmas 6 & 7 Novice Handicap (L) Sunday 28 December, 11:03 Christmas 6 & 7 Slow Handicap (L) Sunday 28 December, 11:06 Gentleman's Lunch Wednesday 31 December, 12:30 - 14:00 |
| News & Notices |
Thursday Talks - Tomorrow 7.30pm Chris Gatenby - Convoy! The Merchant Navy Experience in the Second World War Everyone is welcome. Just turn up and grab a drink and a seat! Sign up for RO Duties for 2026 Click the link below to sign up. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1N8SHQjQbojRP20r99o0qXnx6-h8Emome/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117531620459375227601&rtpof=true&sd=true Please check the pigeon holes at the Club for Christmas cards Junior Christmas Party Thank you to West Kirby Lifeboat for delivering Father Christmas to the Club on Saturday. A huge thank you to Father Christmas for spending some time with our Juniors in the grotto, and making their Christmas incredibly special.  General Committee nominations for 2026 Dear members, At the Annual General Meeting on January 29th a new General committee will be elected. If you wish to stand for nomination to the committee, could you please complete a nomination form and send it through to me before January 7th. Kind regards, Jonathan Edwards. Members marketing & media skills Hi All The Club is trying to find some hidden talent to try and promote us in the wider community. We are looking to get the message out about the sport of sailing and what the Club has to offer! If you think you can help us please contact any of the Flags or Jill in the office. Thank you. 200 Club date change - New Date - Friday 19th December (Due to the last Friday in December being Boxing Day the 200 Club will be held on Friday 19th December) Christmas Bar Hours Monday 22nd December Closed Tuesday 23rd December Closed Christmas Eve 12.00noon -6.00pm Christmas Day Closed Boxing Day 12.00 noon - 6.00pm Saturday 27th December 12.00 noon 6.00pm Sunday 28th December 12.00 noon 6.00pm Monday 29th December Closed Tuesday 30th December Closed New Years Eve 12.00 noon 1.00am New Year Day 12.00 noon 6.00pm Friday 2nd January 5.00pm 11.00pm Saturday 3rd January 12.00 noon 6.00pm Sunday 4th January 12.00 noon 6.00pm |
Galley - Seafood Shack is providing a delicious menu this week. |
Sailing Matters |
| SAVE THE DATES: SAVE THESE DATES FOR YOUR 2026 DIARY:
WKSC & DSC REGATTA WEEKEND: FRI 17/7/26 ROUND HILBRE RACE SAT 18/7/26 DEE SC REGATTA SUN 19/7/25 WEST KIRBY SC REGATTA MON 10/8/26 - FRI 14/8/26 WKSC SAILING EXTRAVAGANZA WEEK 15/8/26 - 21/8/26 Abersoch Mirror Dinghy Week COMING UP (Last before Christmas): on Thursday evening 17:30 - 19:00 Mirror Group Working Party in the boat shed. on Saturday morning from 10:00 Introduction to Racing. on Sunday 21/12/25 Christmas Series 3 & 4 - Fast Handicap start at 11:00, followed by Novice and Slow Handicap starts (and just after Christmas) The Boxing Day Race (26/12/25) for all dinghy classes, experienced racers, novice racers, everybody, on the lake ! Start time 11:00 RACE OFFICER DUTY 2026: Rule 2.1 - (see handbook) applies. Here is the link for you to choose a date(s) for your RO Duty. Get in there quick to make your choice(s). This helps you to avoid swapping later. This does not apply to AROs (Assistant Race Officers) who will be appointed later. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1N8SHQjQbojRP20r99o0qXnx6-h8Emome/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117531620459375227601&rtpof=true&sd=true The Intro. to Racing Group hit the water for the penultimate session in 2025 last Saturday 13/12/25 in a fresh SSE breeze. This was almost a normal race in that there was an RO on the prom, a simple three buoy course and a start finish line. A quick briefing before hand. It took everybody ages to rig up - nothing new there - two quick races and a de-briefing for those that had the time (we had gone on long after 12 noon), afterwards whilst enjoying a glass of mulled wine - thanks to JLS - and only at Christmas! The only difference between this and any normal club race is that most club races start at or near a scheduled start time and theres no coaching allowed for normal club racing (there are exceptions: Novices Handicap Racing, Juniors). Intro to Racing Group last Saturday. Who is that right on the line at the start?  The Intro.to Racing Group catching some good weather last Saturday morning.  Mike de St Paer reminds the Intro.to Racing Group what the S Flag looks like and what its for. Last Saturday morning.  I was reflecting on the journey many of the Intro. to Racing Group have come on since the start three months ago, particularly so for those that have managed to attend most of the sessions. Sailing is a demanding sport. The weather is all important. Just under half the sessions have been on the water so far. Enough though to see the persistent sailors making it across the start line at the right time and seeing them get round the course in a good breeze. Satisfying progress for them and for the gang who turn up each week to help them along in their journey. We have a break in January. Although the water is cold in February when we get going again there's heat from the sun returning to our latitudes, tempting us out on the water again. And it gets a lot better as time goes on. We all need that help in our sailing journey. Ask anybody at the club how they got into sailing and the common thread is the help that came their way in making it all possible. Many of the 30 adults and 14 juniors that signed up in September have not attended most of the sessions. In 2026 we will seek to find away to have Saturday afternoon sessions to continue to help folk on their sailing journey - in better weather ( - hopefully !) … watch this space for further details. Sunday 14/12/25 Christmas Series 1 & 2 The forecast wasnt good and the reality wasnt good either… raining and a fresh breeze to start with and a forecast for it to increase. Not surprising then that there were only 4 takers. Steve Ferrington (Solo) won both races from Kieron Inman and Paul Jenkins (GP) who recorded a second and a third. Mind you - Steves win in the first race was only by 27 seconds on corrected time. Now then - watch out for Owen Chambers (Laser) - hes one of the Intro.to racing Group and he nudged Kieron and Paul into third place in the second race. Theres 8 x races in the Christmas series which include the Boxing Day Race and the New Years Day Race. If all 8x races are sailed then three discards apply. That means theres still plenty of opportunity to flex your ambition! Christmas Series R1 & 2 Ferrington wins the start but who is that Sailing Laser R 136031  PAUSE FOR THOUGHT Christmas is magical! Discuss! No - I dont want to discuss it. Well you dont have to - you awkward B. Im not an awkward B - You are! Theres nothing like a good argument at Christmas. Thats why the the Boxing Day Race was created. It allows a reset from too much. It reminds us that just to be here on Boxing Day is to be lucky. Do you feel lucky? Dont start that again. OK then lets go sailing! Belonging to WKSC is magical. Not its not…. well it might be if the weather is right … on Boxing Day. Just come along and sail or cheer on those who are going to sail or have sailed - in the bar afterwards. Have you been drinking? Well … I mitavad a view of those muelled wins of JLS …. Tony Martson Sailing Secretary Click here for the link to the SAILING MATTERS section |
| Training |
| New courses available now.
Some of our great training Courses for next year are now available to book. Click here to book your Training Course If you are looking for a fantastic Christmas present, why not book a course for yourself or someone else.  |
Events |
| Thursday Talks and Tunes - Tomorrow - Chris Gatenby - Convoy!
Everyone is welcome. Just turn up on the night, grab a drink, take a seat and enjoy the evening.  Christmas Carols - Sunday 21st December Mince pies, mulled wine and carols with the Salvation Army Band, then a break before some classic Christmas tunes . Everyone is welcome to come down and get into the festive spirit.  New Year's Eve Everyone is welcome. The Club Bar will be open until 1am. Music will be playing, people will be dancing. No tickets required. Bring friends and family and ring in the New Year. Helen's Sunday Roast  Snooker  Fixtures 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. |
| Other Information |
| Boats for Sale |
Boats for sale - Click here to view all Boats for Sale on the website. |
| If you would like something added to the newsletter please contact newsletter@wksc.org.uk |
Last updated 17:38 on 17 December 2025
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