Newsletter 18 03 26
Published 21:30 on 17 Mar 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
Well done and thank you to the amazing Team who helped out with the Lash last weekend. A great weekends sailing was completed - good ole British Weather making the Sunday a little 'emotional' (especially for those who have put so much care and attention into getting the Flights ready for sea!).
I am told the Protest evening was great for everyone to see, I'm sorry I couldn't be there in person, I was away with work.
As part of our 125th Celebrations, we will be unveiling the refurbished Canons at the Presidents Race. Martin Whit, who, as you know, has spent so much time working on the guns has written some background, read on!!
REFURBISHING THE GUNS
Refurbishing the guns required great care in handling as they are extremely heavy. A barrel weighs over 350 kg, more than a Falcon with all its equipment. Add the wooden base and the final weight must be close to 450 kg each. Getting advice as to how to process them required time searching the Internet with some interesting results. Did you know that cast-iron guns are still being made in this country?
Visit The Cast Cannon Co website.
BUT FIRST THANKS FOR SUPPORT AND HELP.
Most important, thank you to Mrs Carol Tarbuck, daughter of Commodore Donald Smith, for a very generous donation towards the cost of the Refurbishment.
Thanks to Andy the boatman and his crew for help in moving the barrels as required and keeping them safe; at times quite a delicate operation.
Thanks to the Rear Commodore Sailing and Mike and Anne de St Pare for loan of tools and heavy lifting gear. Thanks to Simon Valentine and FC hardware for use of their truck capable lifting the guns over the glass onto the patio with great care and precision.
Thanks to the curator of St Mawes Castle in Cornwall who had just refurbished all their guns, and following a day trip and tour gave an introduction to the consultant to English Heritage responsible for their gun maintenance. Who kindly gave a great amount of advice on how to go about things .
THE PROVENANCE OF OUR GUNS
Our guns are Carronades. A special design of cannon originating about 1780 And used in Naval warfare till about 1850. Compared to the regular Naval guns these are much smaller lighter and easier to handle. The bigger Naval guns required 8 to 10 crew, a carronade only needed a crew of four. But they were short range and most Naval captains preferred to stand-off at distance using their long guns. Nevertheless once the enemy was close enough carronades were devastating. They they had a large bore and fired a very heavy load, such that the Navy call them smashers.
They came in different sizes, 6, 12, 18 32 and 64 Lbs. Ours are 12 pounders with a 4½ inch bore. With a range of about half mile.
It was an insurance requirement on many merchant ships that they carried a weapon for defence from pirates, and the weapon of choice was the carronade. Of course they could be used for land operations. With the result that they were mounted in many different ways some with wheels, or on carriages which could be towed.
The naval version had the gun mounted on a sliding platform on top of the base, so that the friction between the two absorbed a lot of the recoil. After firing they were hauled out with the usual tackle. Ours are now displayed in that style.
Our guns do not carry any military markings. The book Anything but Sailing remarks that they were acquired from Trinity House. Trinity House used guns firing blanks for warning signals from their light ships and lighthouses. Their head office was, and still is, on the Thames embankment in London.
Casting on the barrels shows that the manufacturer was G and J Oliver of Wapping London.
G and J Oliver were ships outfitters and gunsmiths in the mid-1800s, So it is fair to suggest that the guns could date back to 1850 approx.
Very faint Proof markings on one of the barrels suggests that it was suitable for warfare so could possibly have originated from a merchant vessel.
Further research would be interesting but very time-consuming.
Martin Whittingham-Jones
Sailing and Club Calendar - What's on this week
The Christie Cup Wednesday 18 March, 12:00 - 17:00
Radio Sailing Thursday 19 March, 14:00
Thursday Talks & Tunes - David Griffiths Thursday 19 March, 19:30 - 21:00
Illusion Super Cup Friday 20 March
Training Saturday 21 March, 10:00 - 13:00
Start of Season Champs All Dinghy Classes (T) Saturday 21 March, 10:30
Start of Sailing season party Saturday 21 March, 19:00 - 23:00
Start of Season Champs All Dinghy Classes (T) Sunday 22 March, 11:20
Sunday Lunch Sunday 22 March, 13:30 - 15:30
Gentlemen's Lunch Wednesday, 12:00 - 14:30
News & Notices
The Christie Championships - Today - Wednesday (18th March) 13:30 start
WKSC is hosting this small, but extremely important, event called the "Christie Championships" - an annual sports event held between the Universities of Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester. Please come down and support.
More details below in Sailing Matters.
Thursday Talk - Tomorrow 7:30pm - David Griffiths
- The Archaeology of the North Wirral Coast
Everyone is welcome to come to the last talk of this season. It will be incredibly interesting so please come and enjoy.
David Griffiths is co-owner of Falcon no 38, he has sailed in the Falcon fleet since 2016, having previously crewed in Stars and Hilbres in his younger days (1970s-80s). His job is Professor of Archaeology at Oxford University, he has done research on the local area, as well as others much further afield. The talk relates to a project he did with Liverpool Museum in the early 2000s, on the changing coastline of North Wirral and in particular the exceptional array of finds from the 'Ancient Forest' at Meols.
2026 Club Handbooks - delivery
There are still more than 150 uncollected handbooks for Wirral members in the club foyer. Particularly for members living in West Kirby, Hoylake, Meols and Heswall (but also for most areas of the Wirral). The books are sorted by district so if anyone can deliver some that would be a great help.
Any queries please speak to Jill Marsh in the office.
Thank you
Get your tickets for the Start of Season Sailing Bash - Saturday 21st March
Tickets behind the bar. See poster below in Events.
Tea, Coffee and Pastries
The Macdona Room bar has been stocked with a new range of teas and coffees. There will also be a range of freshly cooked pastries available to purchase. The new menu is available at the Bar so please take a look and hopefully something will take your fancy.
Lets Launch - A new training opportunity
Sailing Sessions on a Friday afternoon from 4:00pm to 6:00pm which will run from Friday 10th April till the end of October.
These are two hour sessions on the water with an RYA instructor for all abilities either in club boats or your own boat.
Sessions will only take place when the weather conditions are suitable.
You can use these sessions to learn to sail, improve your sailing & tick off items in your logbooks. Certificates will be awarded as each level is attained.
The sessions are flexible so come when you can.
Sessions are paid upfront - minimum 5 sessions £75 for using a club boat & £25 for using your own boat.
Once you have paid you will be added to a WhatsApp group which will let you know if the session is running or not.
Food & drink will be available to purchase after sailing.
See the Training Section below for the poster and link to book.
Training - Instructor pre season training meeting - Monday 23rd March 19:30
If you are not already part of the Training Team, but would like to get involved, please come along to the meeting. Training always needs more help whether it be boat maintenance or instructing everyone is welcome.
See the poster below in Training.
Safeguarding
Does your child know how to stay safe online? Test their knowledge with this online quiz.
Before you answer each question, have a discussion, then choose your answer together.
Online safety quiz | NSPCC
The Galley - Closed this Friday
Sorry the Galley is closed this Friday but will be back next week. Please feel free to order takeaways to the Club if you would like.
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 (SAILING):
Wednesday 18/3/26 'Christie Championships' from 13:30
Saturday & Sunday 21 & 22/3/26 The Start of Season Championships: All dinghies & Falcons
Saturday & Sunday 28 & 29/3/26 RYA/UKTRA Team Racing Championships
——————————————————
Theres no easing up for some folk in West Kirby SC… the demand on their time is constant and its a lot of of time that Im talking about here. I occasionally get a glimpse of what they are up to because as Sailing Secretary I get invited to their meetings. There are times when their meetings follow one after another….. its a good job Im only a 5 minute walk from the club otherwise a camp bed might be a necessity of the job. I am referring to the Team Racing Committee, The Training Committee and the Captains Committee.
Team Racing is intense through the winter months, especially from February to May each year culminating with the Wilson Trophy. Naturally, the Training Committee and the Captains Committee are in full preparation for the season about to start. On top of all that there has been a significant effort been made to get the boat yard sorted out, to get the boats of or various classes, together, address the problem of boats that appear to have have been abandoned in the yard. Jean-Louis Simons, Kay Eggleton and Andy Hillyard with the help of many volunteers have tackled the yard and Im guessing this will continue for some time to come. BUT there is good reason for all of this -
Objective #1 to MAXIMISE SAILING ACTIVITY.
The Lash (14/15 March) is the annual Team Racing event organised by WKSC affiliate members, Liverpool and Manchester Universities and hosted by WKSC.
Twenty three enthusiastic teams of University students and alumni from across the north of England arrived bright and early on Saturday morning. The sky was clear blue and very cold with a reasonably constant 12-15 mph wind so we were unexpectedly able to use the big sails on Saturday.
Pictures by Alan Jenkins
With 4 flights of colourful fireflies they managed to complete a formidable 138 races on day one and then went off to party the night away in Liverpool before their scheduled return at 07.30 on Sunday morning. By this time the wind had returned with a vengeance so we changed down to storm sails and postponed for an hour or so. Fortunately by 10.00 the wind had moderated sufficiently (below 25mph) to enable them to wrap up the event with semis and finals.
The event was won by Nottingham White in a very close fought, best of 3, Finals against RLYC Foxes. After a Petit Final, 3rd place went to Job Centre SYC (Durham Uni Alumni ?) with Nottingham Yellow taking 4th place overall
A good weekend's sailing was had by all but we must not forget the hard work provided by WKSC members - in catering, boat preparation, the captain's team and general support throughout the event.
Many thanks to all of you who helped before, during and after the event. Your time and effort is much appreciated and we hope you enjoyed it too !
Report by Kay Eggleton.
This Wednesday (18th March) WKSC is hosting a small, but extremely important, event called the
"Christie Championships" - an annual sports event held between the Universities of Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester.
Steeped in history, the 2026 Championships is in its 140th year following its establishment in 1886. Christie is the second oldest inter-university competition in the UK after the Oxford Cambridge rivalries.
The host alternates each year with 2026 seeing the championships return to the University of Liverpool organisation. 30+ sports events are played throughout the day culminating in a presentation to celebrate the overall victors. Leeds came out on top in 2025, but will they be able to defend the title in 2026 …………..?
The racing will start on the lake, at 13.30 on Wednesday. If anybody has more history on this event please tell the Sailing Secretary.
The Start of Season Championships: All dinghies & Falcons
Saturday 21/3/26 HW 12:11 9.58 Mtrs Start 10:30 RO Kieron Inman
Sunday 22/3/26 HW 12:50 9.45 Mtrs Start 11:20 RO Tony Marston
3 x Races per day total of 6 races. 2 Discards allowed.
Briefing approx. 09:45
There will be a prize giving after the racing in the club house for the following:
Tidal Special Sat 21/2/26
Lake Special Sun 1/3/26
Tidal Special Sat 7/3/26
Tidal Special Sun 8/3/26
Start of Season Championships Sat & Sun 21 & 22/3/26
Please note, this completes the period of specials prior to the start of the season.
The UKTRA Team Racing Championships follow the weekend of 28 & 29/3/26 ….
then its EASTER !
420 & 470 SAILORS
Now then ! ….. What news of our 420 and 470 sailors sailors you may ask?
Arwen Fflur and David Bromilow (470) competed in their first European Championships, Vilamoura, Portugal. 6-14/3/26,
and their first regatta sailing together. They finished 35th overall out of 53 boats competing but their individual race score read 12,13,14,15,16,(20) - more reflective of their positioning and capability. They were invited to train with two of the Olympic 470 sailors prior to competing in the Princess Sophia Trophy coming up in Palma 25/3/26.
Good luck to them.
Pictures provided by Sally Bromilow
420s
Eve Bromilow and Tom Underwood were at Pwllheli last week end for some training before joining the rest of the WKSC 420 sailors (see below) at Rutland for the Inland Championships next weekend.
Neil Marsden and (cant remember !), Eve Bromilow and Tom Underwood, Patrick Bromilow, Tom Kelsall, Isobel Sandow and Edie Rogers. Olivia Creasy and Harry (?). Good luck to them all (even if some of them are not sailing for WKSC - hub of the universe).
JUNIOR SAILING - Optimist, Pico, Feva, Mirror
There's a meeting coming up on Friday evening to gather strength from interested parties, to encorage, promote and organise junior sailing for the season about to start. More on this next week.
Thats it for this week.
Tony Marston
Sailing Secretary.
Training
New Activity - Let's Launch
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.
Start of the Season Bash - Saturday 21st March
Everyone welcome.
Helen's Sunday Roast - Sunday 22nd March
Star Party - Saturday 11th April
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
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 & Wanted |
Boats for sale - Click here to view all Boats for Sale on the website.Wanted - Trailer and trolley required for mirror dinghy. If they fit together well that would be a bonus, but an individual item is fine. Phone Bob Jarvis 07759 273742. |
| If you would like something added to the newsletter please contact newsletter@wksc.org.uk |
Last updated 22:16 on 17 March 2026