Newsletter 25 02 26
Published 18:00 on 23 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. ..
A View from the Bridge
Thanks to everyone who came to the Commodores Dinner last Saturday! It was a lovely event. Thanks to Lindsay, Emma, Jill and the House Team who spent so much time organising it and also to Paul and Helen who so superbly catered the event. The food was spectacular!
I can't move on without a shout out to Gary Price who dug deep (very deep) to say some fine words (as I said on the night, I will keep them to hear one more time, at my funeral!). The dinner was about all of you who do so very much for the club to keep it running, and keep the costs down! Thank you.
Before the dinner on Saturday, I went down to the Club to see the dinghies out on the tide. The Lifeboat ended up being called, but not to any boats or Tony and the team who went for the slightly submerged start line on the Jetty; the Lifeboat was called for 3 people and a dog at the north end who waded to safety as we got to the waters edge.
I did have to intervene to ensure Tony and gang did not receive a 'well meant chat' off the Coastguard when they got back to drier land. Prior to going out, Tony had informed the RNLI that he was intending to be knee deep starting the races - but 2 + 2 does not always equal 4, and they were poised! Anyways, it was all headed off at the pass, and it finished with smiles and pats on the back.
More Fireflies were coming out of hibernation and spreading their wings for a new season. Even more are ready to pupate on Friday morning if anyone is around to give Kay, JLS and the Team a hand.
With Team Racing Season already started, we are looking to grow some more Officials (am I taking the Team Racing as fauna analogy too far?). We are looking for more Judges, Starters, Race Officials, Course Setters. Some of them require some pretty in depth exams, some is on the job training. It really helps us if we have our own in house team. If any of the above are considering so very rewarding work in the larger Team Racing Community, please contact David Taylor and he can guide you. Alternatively, give me a shout and I'll tell you where you can find David!
Chris.
Sailing and Club Calendar - What's on this week
Radio Sailing Thursday 26 February, 14:00
Thursday Talks & Tunes - Music night Thursday 26 February, 19:30 - 21:00
Illusion Friday 27 February, 14:00
Training Saturday 28 February, 10:00 - 13:00
Hilbre Annual Dinner Saturday 28 February, 19:00 - 23:00
Early Spring Lake Special All Dinghy Classes (L) Sunday 1 March, 11:00
First Aid Course 1 March 2026 Sunday 1 March
GC2 Monday 2 March, 20:00 - 22:00
Gentlemen's Lunch Wednesday 28 January, 12:00 - 14:30
News & Notices
Thursday Tunes - 7.30pm
This week we have tunes. Pop down to listen, or come and join in. Everyone is welcome.
---------------
Safeguarding
Safeguarding have been busy training new staff and instructors and although the full club safeguarding policy can be found on the website Safeguarding : West Kirby Sailing Club we have produced a short guide for all members. This guide is intended to provide essential safeguarding information, making it easier for everyone to understand their responsibilities and the clubs procedures.
Safeguarding children, young people and adults a short guide for club members
The Galley
Seafood Shack will be 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 (SAILING):
Thursday 26th February 17:30 - 19:00 Mirror Group Working - Re-fitting Cmon Eileen and maybe rigging
Saturday 28/2/26 Intro. To Racing : Briefing at 10:00 - lets go racing!
Sunday 1/3/26 Start 11:00 Early Early Spring Lake Special: 3 x quick races
Saturday 7/3/26 HW 13.08 8.76 Start 12:00 Mtrs All dinghy classes Tidal Special
Sunday 8/3/26 HW 13.42 8.4 Mtrs Start 12:30 All dinghy classes Tidal Special
——————————————————
TIDAL SPECIALS - LAST WEEK-END Sat 210226 & Sun 220226 - Big tides
At last a break from E or ESE winds as a SW airstream prevailed over last week-end. I was RO and I underestimated the depth of water over the lake wall and had to quickly abandon my planned starting position on the jetty by the lake sluice gates. It was a good job Judith Carter (ARO) and me were both wearing dry suits or we might have needed rescuing. We had to wade back to the lake apron.
As it was some 20 folk were caught out attempting to walk round the lake wall. The Coastguard and RNLI were called.
The forecast significantly over estimated the wind strength. The fleet was all but becalmed as we started the first race but then the breeze filled in but it wasnt consistent in strength or direction.
In all three races the 420 of Neil Marsden and Eve Bromilow led the way round as to be expected being the scratch boat on PY. They won on handicap too in all three races, again not unexpected from a recent national champion in the 420 class. However the winning margins on corrected time were not that significant which must have given encouragement to the rest of the fleet.
The general opinion from competitors after the racing seemed to be that it was just very pleasing to be out on the tide again.
Tidal Special last Saturday
Mike and Anne De St Paer racing in their Heron
Tidal Special last Saturday
Neil Marsden and Eve Bromilow 420
Winners of all 3 x races
Tidal Special last Saturday
Some of the Laser Lads from the left:
Ioannis Koutsokeras, Owen Chambers, Pete Jones, Gavin Roberts.
Tidal Special last Saturday
Steve Jardine concentrating on the run.
Tidal Special last Saturday
Ioannis Koutsokeras (195) & Pete Jones (212)
The weather forecast for Sunday turned out to be more accurate and though the wind strength wouldnt have deterred racing in the summer, at this time of the year and with a SW wind bringing a chop onto the tidal slipway that makes boat recovery difficult without numerous helpers, I decided racing wasnt viable. AP over A.
BUT lake sailing before and after the tide was practical for Manchester Uni team racing practise and for club members needing some sailing exercise in a brisk breeze.
Optimist sailors Theo Geddes and Amber Price out for some practise on Sunday last.
The Dinghy and Watersports Show 21 & 22/2/26 at Farnborough International.
I havent heard from anyone from WKSC who went to the show, but from the yachting press I gleaned that it was busy. A good omen.
A new IC at the Dinghy Exibition last weekend at Farnborough
STOP PRESS - I've just found the Y&Y Online report on the show and the YouTube video... Both are really worth watching. Impressive boats, impressive crowds there.
The Golden Series (continued)
Just a reminder of the races making up the Golden Series
- Presidents Race Sat 18/4/26
- Jubilee Pursuit Race Sat 2/5/26
- Mostyn Race Sat 16/5/26
- Long Distance Race Sat 13/6/26
- Round Hilbre Race Fri 17/7/26
This week Ill take a look at the Long Distance Race.
Im going to be a bit controversial here when I say that we, the club, whilst making every effort to run this race well, dont often if ever succeed in doing so, at least, not satisfactorily for the range of boats competing. Theres a reason for that. Determining a course in the Dee Estuary, with the natural hazards of sand banks, channels, rocks and multiplicity of buoys, is no easy matter especially when the flooding and ebbing tide must also be taken into account. No good for the leading boats to turn up at a mark of the course only to find that theres not enough water to get round it. Also to give competitors a chance of navigating to buoys that they would not normally sail to requires a lot of resources which need to be organised and to be relied upon. In short it is a logistical challenge of significant proportion. But its still worth doing it for competitors and organisers alike. And like any race, but more so for the Long Distance Race - the weather conditions are all important.
It is usual for the course to take in both sides of the estuary, the channel up towards Flint, obviously crossing the estuary westwards and back easterly. Finishing the race is likely to be at different places for different classes of boat in order that recovery to moorings or the slipway can be achieved before the tide runs out.
Another challenge is writing the sailing instructions !
COMING UP: Thursday night talks:
Thursday 5/3/26
Mike Hartley (Rear Commodore Sailing) and Tony Marston (Sailing Secretary) are on the subject of
WHY WE GO RACING
Thursday 12/3/26
David Taylor and Tony Marston are going to hold a
LIVE PROTEST HEARING
featuring a protest by Tony Clark (Laser) against Liz Potter (D-Zero)
If you want to see why and how a protest is dealt with the sport of sailing then tis session is not to be missed.
ALSO
after a short break a second protest that did not actually happen will be heard because the incident happened and it will provide some good points to consider, discuss and enjoy…..entertainment for all concerned !!
MIRRORS
News of two more Mirrors coming into the WKSC fleet:
Gavin Roberts has acquired a Mirror. Im still confused of where it came from but that will become clear to me in due course no doubt. Gavin had a Mirror years ago when his children were little. (see pic). Phil Kelly has a brand new Mirror on order from Winder Boats - due sometime in May. A champagne launch is being planned. Exciting Stuff !! This will be our first Bermudan rigged Mirror.
Gavin Roberts with his children a while back BUT he's got another Mirror. Everybody needs a Mirror
Next week…. some long overdue news from the Falcon Fleet, Boat Parking related matters, WKSC PY List 2026.
Tony Marston
Sailing Secretary.
Training
Training News
Congratulations to Eve Bromilow, Freddie Hall, Sophie & Phoebe Gatenby who attended & passed the RYA Juniors Assistant Instructors Course held this week. They will be a great addition to the Training Team.
Any adults who would like to become an assistant instructor, please let me know by emailing training@wksc.org.uk . The course will be over one weekend or two Saturdays.
The RYA VHF course held on Sunday 15th February was very successful with all twelve members passing. Each person had their own vhf set to use during the day which made a huge difference.
Training is looking to run another First Aid Course as the one on 1st March is full. There needs to be at least six people who can attend to make it viable. Please email training@wksc.org.uk if you are interested.
Click here to book your Training Courses
Events
Thursday Talks and Tunes
Just turn up on the night, grab a drink, take a seat and enjoy the evening. The event starts at 7.30pm.
Hilbre Annual Dinner - Saturday 28th February
Everyone welcome.
Fred's Party - Saturday 7th March
Everyone welcome.
Helen's Sunday Roast - Sunday 22nd March
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 18:56 on 25 February 2026