Newsletter 21 01 26
Published 15:00 on 21 Jan 2026
Welcome to WKSC Newsletter
A round up of Club news this week... including sailing, training and upcoming social events. Also included are links to current boats for sale.
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A View from the Bridge
What a few weeks we've had, sailors braving ice, sleet, snow, rain, brimstone on the Lake - (fair play people, but I think you are all a touch mad!). Watching from the prom, it seemed more like enduring the Southern Oceans than a race round the cans. If I'd seen a penguin, it would have sealed the deal.
On the weather, it still looks like Easterly Winds, reasonably strong over the weekend, hopefully shadowed by the Hill, but what ever we get will be flukey.
Did everyone look up on Monday night, a huge display of Aurora Borealis, which lasted for hours. Clearly visible with the naked eye (not just by smart phone). It was spectacular to behold from the Irish Sea, but the photos from land were much better as it was so much more stable, I got a lot of blurry coloured smudges whilst on the Pilot Launch, and then the ship I boarded had the most ludicrous deck lighting which the night settings on my camera devoured leaving me with pictures that looked either, all black, or coloured daylight..... No Lord Snowdon here, I'd best stick to driving ships.
Aurora pictures by Phoebe Gatenby
To finish, don't forget it is the AGM coming up a week on Thursday. We are in the lucky position of having too many volunteers for the General Committee, so there will be a vote (the first in a few years)! This can slow down the procedures a bit, so if you can get there early and fill your ballots in we can get things moving. The Bar will be open, so coming early will have an extra benefit.
Remember, to come along to the proceedings, you need to have paid up your subs and any outstanding debts to the Club. This will be checked on the door.
See you all soon!
Chris
Sailing and Club Calendar - What's on this week
Radio Sailing Thursday 22 January, 14:00
Thursday Talks & Tunes - 7.30pm - Helen Hughes, Dave Watkin and Sarah Rees experience of the Clipper Race Thursday 22 January, 19:00 - 22:00
Illusion Friday 23 January, 14:00
Training Saturday 24 January, 10:00 - 13:00
Arctic Series 7 & 8 All Dinghy Classes (L) Sunday 25 January, 11:00
Sunday Lunch Sunday 25 January, 13:30 - 15:30
Peter Evans wake Monday 26 January, 14:00 - 16:00
Gentlemen's Lunch Wednesday 28 January, 12:00 - 14:30
News & Notices
Thursday Talks and Tunes - Tomorrow - Thursday 22nd January 19:30
Helen Hughes, Dave Watkin and Sarah Rees recount their experiences of sailing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
AGM - Thursday 29th January 20:00
The Galley
Helen Brown is providing a delicious menu this week - Click here for the menu
Sailing Matters
SAVE THE DATE REMINDER:
FRI 17/7/26 ROUND HILBRE RACE
SAT 18/7/26 DEE SC REGATTA
SUN 19/7/26 WEST KIRBY SC REGATTA
MON 10/8/26 - FRI 14/8/26 WKSC SAILING EXTRAVAGANZA WEEK
COMING UP:
Thursday 22/1/26 Evening 17:30-19:00 Mirror Working Group - WKSC Shed
Sunday 25/1/26 Arctic Series Races 7 & 8 Start 11:00 All classes.
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I never did get to report on the 420/ 470/Laser event out in Spain just before Christmas for our WKSC contingent and the reason why was it was one of those events that those involved would rather forget ! No wind and other negatives we wont go into. Suffice to say its good to have them back and into some practising on the lake. See pic of David Bromilow and Arwen Fflur. Eve Bromilow and Tom Underwood were at Leigh and Lowton last weekend for some RYA Talent Academy Transition coaching. Amber Price was also at Leigh and Lowton for Optimist North West Class Coaching. The wind was light and fizzled out on Sunday so there was a shore based session instead of drifting about getting cold.
David Bromilow and Arwen Fflur, both part of the RYA Double Handed Academy within the mixed dinghy (470) programme, seen here out for some practise on the lake. The usual training takes place at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.
Amber Price (somewhere in this group of Optimists) receiving some coaching at Leigh & Lowton SC last weekend.
Eve Bromilow & Tom Underwood at Leigh & Lowton for 420 coaching last weekend.
Sundays Arctic Series racing attracted 14 x boats. There was nothing attractive about the weather though: a light southerly breeze, raining and cold. Top marks for enthusiasm for all concerned especially to Gavin Roberts the Race Officer and his father Keith ARO. Steve Ferrington (Solo) won the first race, Stuart Dawson Laser) second, John Carlin (Albacore) third. In the second it was the same three Stuart won, John second and Steve third. Good to see Peter Davenport from the Introduction to Racing Group, out in a club Pico finishing a race, another step forward.
Last Sundays Arctic Series racing Steve Shalcroft (216509), Hannah Dufton-Kelly (173743) and Matt Melling (160640) in close formation.
Last Sundays Arctic Series Racing - light wind, raining and cold but lots of enthusiasm.
The WKSC 2026 Club Handbook has gone off to the printers. Please check the website regularly - the Sailing Programme should be available on the website very soon - this will tide you over until the handbook with the full Sailing Programme becomes available sometime in March.
CRUISING FLEET MEMBERS: I was chatting with an old pal by the back door of the club when an ex member who didnt give me his name, arrived on the seen. He explained that he used to work for Reeds Nautical Almanac. He has a 2026 Reeds Nautical Almanac (unopened) for sale at £20 (retail £56) if anyone is interested contact me.
The Results Team (thanks to Martin Hartley) have updated Sailwave to the latest version. This gives us additional methods of scoring which will be useful. More on that in due course.
I think that's about all I've got for this week. Thanks to Alan Jenkins and Sally Bromilow for pics.
Tony Marston
Sailing Secretary.
Training
Click here to book your Training Courses
Events
Thursday Talks and Tunes - Tomorrow 22nd January
Everyone is welcome. Just turn up on the night, grab a drink, take a seat and enjoy the evening. The talk starts at 7.30pm.
Hilbre Annual Dinner - 28th February
Everyone welcome.
Helen's Sunday Roast - Sunday 25th January
WLYC 24 Hour Race 2026
What is the 24hr race
The Southport 24 Hour Race, hosted by West Lancashire Yacht Club (WLYC), is a prestigious, annual dinghy sailing endurance event on Southport's Marine Lake, combining intense team racing with a massive community festival, attracting clubs from across the UK for a non-stop test of skill, strategy, and stamina, featuring boat classes like Enterprise, GP14, and Firefly.
Last won by WKSC in 1968
Race Format
Duration: The race starts at 12 noon on Saturday and finishes at 12 noon on Sunday, running continuously through the night.
Location: The race takes place on the enclosed waters of the Southport Marine Lake, which contains two islands.
Teams: It is a team event, with most entries consisting of around 18 sailors per boat. The race is a test of teamwork and endurance. Also needed is good shore-based team to support and encourage the sailors.
Crew Changes: Teams operate in shifts (typically one to two hours) and can only change crew in a specially dedicated docking area. Competitors are not permitted to sail for more than one team during the event.
Scoring: The winner is the boat that covers the greatest distance (most laps) in the 24 hours. Lap times are tracked, and the relative performance of each lap is calculated based on the average duration of all laps completed within specific time intervals.
Boats: The race is sailed in classic dinghies, with recent events including the Enterprise, GP14, and Firefly classes.
Categories: Various categories exist, including 'Unrestricted', 'Masters', 'Ladies', and 'University' teams, which compete for special prizes.
The event, hosted by West Lancashire Yacht Club (WLYC), is a major social gathering in the UK dinghy sailing calendar, with loud music and large number of spectators.
The event is set up on the Friday afternoon and normally kicks off with a party in the evening.
Check out the link to last years videos of the event.
Please join the WhatsApp group to express your interest. Our ultimate goal would be to have two teams, one for taking it seriously for which helms and crews are needed, the other one would be a more relaxed team to get as many people out to experience at least one lap of the lake and to feel the buzz of the event with no pressure.
We need you
Helms
Crews
Shore Team
Help fundraising
Sponsors
No age limitations Juniors welcome (especially for light winds!!)
Snooker
Fixtures
21 Jan Hoylake SC - Away
25 Feb Wallasey YC - 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. |
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Last updated 10:53 on 22 January 2026