Newsletter 04 02 26
Published 18:00 on 3 Feb 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
The AGM has been and gone, and so another Club year passes. For the first time in a number of years a vote was held for GC members. Please don't be disappointed if your person didn't get in and thanks all for putting your names forward.
We had a very quick turnaround with our first GC of the year on Monday night. We have a lot to do this year. I'll do a bigger breakdown of where we see the Club in a future newsletter - but fair to say, we will be polling ideas on how to keep the club moving forwards and looking for willing volunteers to make it happen. This year's GC are a great team with whom I'm looking forward to work.
Whilst we are under strict instructions not to talk about GC outside the meeting, I think I won't break any confidence, in disclosing that some light relief was brought in my my poorly behaved AI, as I tried to get it to do the Minutes. It was like having a 3 year old, sitting on the table, occasionally getting bored and chipping in.
The Hon Sec's AI was much better behaved!
Thursday 05th February - (Tomorrow!), Steve Longmore is doing another of his truly superb lectures on the 'Mysteries of the Universe'. Steve is a Professor at LJMU, and without being rude to everyone else, was the stand out lecture of the last two years. It should have been on TV.
No pressure Steve!!! Suitable for all ages, come down and learn — a lot!
The following day, whilst your head is still full of facts about blackholes, quasars and Syzygy (neatly demonstrating the beauty of Google), there is a working part to get the Fireflies ready for the BUSA Northern Qualifiers and mend the WKSC lake jetty. So if anyone is about, it will be a good day to come and lend a hand. There are jobs for everyone, from sorting sails to heavy lifting.
Hopefully, I will see you there (hopefully — as I'm working and don't yet know when)!
Chris
Sailing and Club Calendar - What's on this week
Thursday Talks & Tunes Thursday 5 February, 19:30 - 21:00
Training Saturday 7 February, 10:00 - 13:00
Six Nations Saturday 7 February, 14:00 - 20:00
BUSA Northern Qualifiers Saturday 7 - 8 February
Gentlemen's Lunch Wednesday 28 January, 12:00 - 14:30
News & Notices
Thursday Talks and Tunes - Tomorrow - Thursday 5th February 19:30 - Mysteries of the Multiverse
Steve Longmore, our very own Astrophysicist, is back by popular demand. This time he will be talking about the mysteries of the multiverse. All welcome. Please come along, grab a drink and a seat, and enjoy the evening.
Yard Help Request - This Friday 10am
Any help would be appreciated this Friday (6th) to help launch boats, move fireflies, fix jetties and a few other jobs. Please come down and help if you have some free time.
Mike Hartley
Rear Commodore Sailing.
BUSA (British Universities Sailing Association) Northern Qualifiers - This weekend at WKSC
This weekend (7/8 February) Liverpool University is hosting the BUSA (British Universities Sailing Association) Northern Qualifiers with support from WKSC.
We are expecting 18 University teams so it will be a busy weekend. We hope that you will come down and watch the racing on the Marine Lake (or at least from the warmth of the Clubhouse). Please make the teams welcome.
Liverpool University Sailing Society is also organising a Bake Sale over the weekend in aid of the West Kirby RNLI so please come down and support this.
Kay
Team Racing Secretary
Rugby 6 Nations in the Main Room - Saturday
All the matches will be shown at the Club.
2026 Sailing Calendar
The 2026 Sailing Calendar is now available in pdf on the website. You will need to be logged in to view it. Any problems with login contact house@wksc.org.uk or office@wksc.org.uk
The handbooks will be circulated in early March.
Safeguarding
The Safeguarding Team will be providing regular updates over the coming weeks.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility ensuring we create a welcoming, safe environment for everyone in our community.
The Galley
The House Team are 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
Please note:
The 2026 Sailing Programme is available as a PDF on the website under Sailing. You need to Login to get it.
COMING UP:
Thursday 5th February 17:30 - 19:00 Mirror Group Working
Saturday & Sunday 7&8/2/26 BUSA Northern Qualifiers hosted by Liverpool University, supported by WKSC
(No club racing this weekend - Arctic Lake 11 & 12 Sunday 15/2/26 11:00 Start All Dinghy Classes under code flag W).
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ARCTIC LAKE SERIES RACES 9 & 10
There are many moments of joy in the job of sailing secretary and one of them came last Sunday morning: Arctic 9 & 10 races on the lake. To see someone who only started racing three years ago win both of the races in a tricky ESE wind against established sailors, was very pleasing. Well done Judith Carter (Lightning). The winning margin on corrected time was 1 second and 4 seconds. That's close but it underlines the importance of a good start, of concentration and getting the wind shifts right and keeping the boat speed up. Fourteen boats competing. Talking about close…Steve Ferrington (Solo) was second in both races. There's only one point now separating Tony Clark (Laser Radial) who is leading the Arctic Series from Steve Ferrington who is lying second. The light winds didn't suit Tony Clark with a radial rig. Maybe there will be a change in conditions by the time the last two races are staged on Sunday 11 & 12/226 after which there will be a prize giving.
Arctic Racing Sunday 25/1/26 (pic Alan Jenkins)
Arctic Series racing Sunday 25/1/26 (pic Alan Jenkins)
Arctic Series racing last weekend (pic Tony Marston)
Arctic Series Racing last Sunday (pic John Mooney)
Artic Race 10 Steve Ferrington (Solo 5907) Judith Carter (Lightning) - pic Alan Jenkins
TEAM RACING PRACTISE
Teams from 4 x Universities (Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and York) were out practising on Sunday in Fireflies. I recognised one familiar face - George Colquitt racing in the York2 team. There will be 8 x teams competing on the lake this coming weekend in the BUSA Northern Qualifiers. The current forecast for the weekend isn't too bad except for the continuance of the ESE airflow.
University Team Racing Practise last Sunday
Team Racing Practise last Sunday (pic John Mooney)
VERY EARLY SEASON
Whilst the main 2026 season gets going at the beginning of April there is a lot to look forward to in the remains of February and March - two tidal specials (21&22/2/26 and 7&8/3/26) and a lake special Sunday 1/3/26. Of course the weather is the critical factor particular in the early months of the the year.
The PRESIDENT'S RACE
In last weeks newsletter I mentioned The Golden Series. The first race in the series is the Traditional President's Race.
This tidal race is open to all boats. Again traditionally many of the Stars and Hilbres are launched down at the beginning of the tide on the day of the race so the start is timed approximately an hour and a half before high water. The course is usually around three or four buoys which are laid for the race. This year Presidents Race is planned for 18th April.
MIRROR NEWS
Last Friday evening we dismantled a lot of Mirror rudders ready for re shockchording the blades (to hold the blade down. The new shockchord has arrived so the team will be putting them back together this week. There have been developments on the spinnaker development mini project but I cant tell you anything more at this time - its top secret. Wood rot was found in the transom of one of the Mirrors being worked on by Bob Jarvis resulting in a new transom being installed.
Mirror Group Work on daggerboards and rudders
Mirror dinghy transom - wood rot (pic Bib Jarvis)
Mirror - new transom (pic Bob Jarvis)
Tony Marston
Sailing Secretary.
Training
Click here to book your Training Courses
The First Aid Course is suitable for any adult and is especially important for instructors whose First Aid certificates have expired or will soon expire.
Events
Thursday Talks and Tunes - 5th February - Mysteries of the Multiverse
Come along to hear Steve talk about the universe, the multiverse and everything in between … Steves knowledge is immense (in our opinion) and can probably answer any astrophysics question you can throw at him, plus hes a brilliant presenter . See you there - y6 and above kids very welcome too.
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
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
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. |
| If you would like something added to the newsletter please contact newsletter@wksc.org.uk |
Last updated 19:57 on 4 February 2026