Newsletter 25 03 26

Published 10:08 on 25 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.     

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A View from the Bridge

The Start of Season Sailing party looked like a blast! Good food, good drink and good company! I am gutted I couldn't support it, I was stuck in work. Many thanks to the GP14 Class for setting this up and running the event.

Another thing I missed, but thankfully my daughter recorded for me, was David Griffiths talk about the archaeology of the North Wirral Coast. It was a great talk and a great evening. I hope everyone who could turn up enjoyed it.

This weekend is the UKTRA (UK Team Racing Association) event at the Club. It is basically a mini Wilson Trophy. Volunteers still needed here, especially in the Beach Party - no experience needed - John Mooney and his gang will show you what to do! If you just turn up on the day and find John, he will direct you where work is most needed.

I'll just take a moment to explain how hard the Team Racing Team work to make these events happen. I really don't want to name any names here for risk of missing someone out and causing offence. The Team spend months and months getting the boats ready. This involves repairs to hulls and fittings, painting, rigging, sorting sails. Each boat requires at least 4 people just to turn it over. Not to mention Yard Tetris as the boats are brought out and space has to be found whilst not blocking in other classes. WKSC invented Team Racing (with RStGYC of Dublin), it is the thing that makes us stand out - the world over. We will always need your help to make the event run - again, as with the Beach Party, we will take all ages and all levels of experience. If you are new to the Club or been a member for 30 years, speak to Kay or Jean Louis (or anyone you see shifting or fettling an Firefly!) about how to get involved and they will slot you in, even if it's just for an hour!

Also, the Training Team got together this week for a Meeting to discuss the new season, which will soon be upon us. Their preparations are well underway for the new Season. Keep your eye on these pages for course dates.

Chris

Sailing and Club Calendar - What's on this week

Radio Sailing Thursday 26 March, 14:00

Illusion Friday 27 March, 14:00

Training Saturday 28 March, 10:00 - 13:00

UKTRA Saturday 28 - 29 March - Team Racing

Falcon Owners Meeting Sunday 29 March, 14:00 - 17:00

GC3 Monday 30 March, 20:00 - 22:00

W1 Solo Tuesday 31 March, 18:45

W1 Laser Tuesday 31 March, 18:48

W1 Illusion Tuesday 31 March, 18:51

April 2026

Gentlemen's Lunch Wednesday, 12:00 - 14:30

W1 Fast Handicap Wednesday 1 April, 18:45

W1 Novice Handicap Wednesday 1 April, 18:48

W1 Slow HandicapWednesday 1 April, 18:51

News & Notices

Team Racing - UKTRA - This weekend

This weekend (28/29th March) we are hosting the RYA UKTRA Team Racing Championships. A mini Wilson Trophy with 19 of the best UK teams participating including the West Kirby Hawks (Andy Cornah, Dom Johnson and Ben Field crewed by Hollie Marston, Sophia Johnson and Tom Foster). Please come down and support them. 

If you would like to help over the weekend but are not sure who to speak to please email kayeggleton1@gmail.com 

The Glyn Evans Award  

The success and sustainability of our sailing club heavily depends on the dedication and voluntary efforts of its members. Without the commitment of these volunteers, the club's operations would be severely compromised. A select group of individuals undertake significant responsibilities, often working behind the scenes, and their contributions may not always be visible or widely recognized. One exemplary volunteer is Peter Williams, who was honoured with the Glyn Evans Award at this years Annual General Meeting. The Glyn Evans Award is regarded as the second-highest accolade that can be bestowed upon a club member, acknowledging exceptional service and commitment.

Peter Williams has demonstrated longstanding dedication to the club, serving as secretary for six challenging years and as the club archivist since 2013. During this time, he took over the extensive collection of historical documents and photographs that his predecessor, John Millar had used to write Anything but Sailing. Peter meticulously organized, catalogued, and preserved these materials, ensuring the clubs rich history is maintained for future reference. His efforts have significantly contributed to the clubs heritage and have provided valuable insights into its development over the years.

Peter has played a vital role in managing the clubs sailing reporting which was initially prompted by the RYAs request for activity data to assess our sailing training needs. This morphed into recording data for CASC (Community Amateur Sports Club) to demonstrate to the RYA the Clubs compliance with regulatory requirements. The record includes sailing, racing, team racing, cruising, basic recreation, training, boat preparation and maintenance, and even feeding hungry sailors. Reporting participation in WKSC based competitions like UKTRA, BUSA and the Wilson Trophy increases the clubs visibility and operational accountability. The returns can even include weather conditions.

Peters expertise extends into health and safety, where he has played a pivotal role. He successfully transitioned the clubs risk assessments from an external consultancy to an in-house process, leveraging his extensive professional background. This shift has improved the clubs ability to manage safety proactively and efficiently. Currently, Peter serves as the clubs "competent person," a role that if it were not filled the club could not operate.

It is important to recognize that the contributions of many club members are vital to its ongoing success. Their efforts, often performed voluntarily and without recognition, form the backbone of the clubs operations. Peter Williams exemplifies this spirit of service, demonstrating how individual dedication can ensure that the club remains a vibrant and compliant organization, capable of providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all members.

Boatyard prep

A band of amazing volunteers joined the yard chappy for an evening of paint and sip. Marvellous it was, the impromptu bar was welcomed by all, particularly the yard chappy.
The lake marks are now antifouled with all numbers refreshed. No excuses now, and you may want to bear in mind that if you now hit a buoy you may have a black stripe running the side of your dinghy!!

Special thanks to Dave Ashworth, John Mooney, Judith Carter, Mike and Ann De St Paer, Key Eggleton, Peter Jones, Mike Hartley for the loan of his chisel and Stephen Bromilow for supplying the masking tape!!

All in all a very enjoyable evening with beer for the boys and Prosecco for the girls and nibbles for all.

There were productive conversations too. Amazing I know!! The painters thought that buoys nbr 2 and 7 were very difficult to see wherever you were on the lake. Yellow stripes will now be added to both, to hopefully make them more visible.

We plan to launch the marks back in position Tuesday afternoon in time for the first evening race in the evening.

The boatshed chappy.

2026 Club Handbooks - delivery

There are still 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

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 and sausage rolls available to purchase. The new menu is available at the Bar so please take a look and hopefully something will take your fancy.

77th Wilson Trophy - Help Needed

The Wilson Trophy is regarded as the premier team racing event in the world, attracting the most skilled exponents of the discipline, along with many fleet and match racing world champions and Olympians. This is the event that so many other disciplines are trying to recreate but West Kirby have been doing it, and excelling at it, for 77 years. With close to 300 races being run over a three-day event, the Wilson Trophy is revered for its fierce racing, famous socials, live commentary and breath-taking skill which all make for one unforgettable event.

The being said, the 77th Wilson Trophy is just around the corner and I'm on the lookout for some help across the weekend…

Catering

BBQ helpers for the evening of Friday 8th May

Breakfast BBQ teams for Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th May

Lunch teams Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th May

Beach Party

The beach master and team would welcome any additional help leading up to the Wilson and throughout the weekend

Hosts

Teams that consist of 6 people will arrive on Friday 8th May and will leave on Sunday 10th May and so will require x2 nights of accommodation.

There is no obligation to host a full (6) team, half a team (3) is also a fantastic help.

All teams are asked to bring sleeping bags, pillows etc... with them so they only require floor space.

Teams are out of the house from 8am until roughly 6pm once sailing has finished and will come back to get ready and then head back to the Club.

All meals are provided by the club, so they don't need feeding.

Lastly, if you know of any businesses or own a business yourself and would be interesting in providing sponsorship support for the Wilson, please get in touch using the details below; we have some great packages available.

If you have any questions in regard to hosting and would like some more information or can offer any other help mentioned above, please contact Kathryn Sandall Mobile: 07896945267 or Email: kathryn.h.brown@hotmail.co.uk

Don't forget to also grab some Wilson Brunch raffle tickets!!

The Galley

Seafood Shack will be providing a delicious menu this week - Click here for the menu

Sailing Matters

COMING UP (SAILING):

Saturday & Sunday 28 & 29/3/26 RYA/UKTRA Team Racing Championships

EASTER: A rarity - good tides on all 4 days = 4 x days of tidal racing. Please watch put for details next week on the WhatsApp Groups, website, newsletter and at the club !

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TEAM RACING

Last Wednesday  we held the sailing part of the multisports Christie Championships - an event in its 140th year - between the Universities of Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester.

Manchester won the team racing at WKSC but Leeds University won the overall Championship with 100 points, followed by Liverpool with 99.5 points and Manchester with 96.5 points. A very close result!

This weekend (28/29th March) we are hosting the RYA UKTRA Team Racing Championships. A mini Wilson Trophy with 19 of the best UK teams participating including the West Kirby Hawks (Andy Cornah, Dom Johnson and Ben Field crewed by Hollie Marston, Sophia Johnson and Tom Foster). Please come down and support them. 

START OF SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS last weekend  21&22/3/26

ONE DAY… last Saturday - the sun broke through the haze, there was a bit of warmth from the sun, maybe the land felt the warmth and the rising air mass drew the air in off the cold sea generating a light breeze. This was the day when the Hilbres and Stars came out of the shed. There was buzz of activity. 

Stars and Hilbres out of the shed and into Saturdays sunshine.

Meanwhile competitors, RO Kieron Inman and race team, who had earlier that morning thought that there would be no racing for the Start of Season Championship as it was absolutely flat calm, stirred with hope as the breeze kicked in. The forecast of no wind may have deterred some from sailing. Its still early in the year and yet that sunshine won through and seven boats competed in two races before the breeze died away. The second race was just one lap. With the ebb running and the breeze getting lighter and lighter it was touch and go whether the Heron sailed by Mike and Anne De St Paer would make against the tide to get round the last buoy. They did and this would prove essential for their overall score. 

Liz Potter (D-Zero) won both races on corrected time but it was close with only thirty six seconds separating the top three - Mike and Anne St Paer (Heron) second and Steve Ferrington (Solo) third.

Day two of the Start of Season Championships; what a difference a day makes; no sunshine and a cold northerly breeze was the order of the day for Sundays twenty strong fleet. 

A decent breeze suddenly dropped when the fleet was launching then filled again from the north west but as the race got going, veered to the north. Such a shift resulted in the fleet being able to cruise around the course  without the need for a tack. The Race Officer (me) wanted to abandon this race. I had carelessly forgotten to take a 'N' flag to signal race abandoned so had to shorten the race at the end of one lap. No results were taken. I attempted to communicate that it was to be treated as a practise race. 

This was the beginning of balls up (WW1 Military terminology) or as comedians Laurel and Hardy would say …Another fine mess…  Another race was started. This race was concluded satisfactorily. Andrew Potter (Phantom) took line honours but it was Harry Pye (Aero7) who won on corrected time. Mike and Anne St Paer second, John Carlin and Thomas Teubner (Albacore) third. 

The next race started with the ebb tide flowing and carrying most of the fleet over the line before the start. Two general recalls followed. The black flag start (well …. my black hat substituted for the black flag - another item of essential equipment I had forgotten to take out with me) got the race properly underway. The wind was starting to ease down. I decided to finish this race after one lap. John Carlin and Thomas Teubner (Albacore) won on corrected time, Harry Pye (Aero7) second, Mike and Anne St Paer (Heron) 3rd.  There was enough water for another race (three races scheduled for the days racing).

This final race of the day attracted fewer competitors. I had failed to communicate successfully to all competitors that the first race was a practise race (as far as I was concerned) and that there would be three further races.  Another black flag start ensured the race got away with no competitor over the line at the start. All competitors completed this one lap race in under twenty minutes. Harry Pye (Aero7) had another win with Ioannis Koutsokeras (Ilca6) second and Steve Jardine (Ilca7) third.

Overall It was the Heron sailed by Mike and Anne St Paer who won overall with Steve Ferrington third and Liz Potter (D-Zero) third but a request for redress was submitted to determine a solution to the mess I created by failing to communicate that the first race sailed was abandoned. The result of that was that the final race sailed was not to be counted in the series.  

This Start of Season Championships, held over two days comprised 6 planned races. A competitor who raced in all six could discard his/her worst two results, if only five sailed then only one race result could be discarded, no discards allowed for four races sailed or less.  It follows that only those who sailed on both days had a chance of winning overall. 23 x boats, 26 competitors competing.

JUNIOR SAILING UPDATE

Our new Junior Sailing Steering Group met for the first time on Friday and will now meet monthly to support and develop junior sailing at the club. The group is open and welcoming, if you're interested in coming along or getting involved, you'd be very welcome. The next meeting will take place on Friday 1st May at 7:30pm in the Macdona Room.

We're also kicking things off with a Junior Pre-Season Shakedown on Friday 27th March, meeting at 5:45pm for a 6:00pm start in the boat yard. This will be a chance to get boats ready for the season with rig checks, boat washes and a bit of parent catch-up. Please bring buckets, sponges and potentially a change of clothes!

Friday Junior Sailing

Friday evening junior sailing returns on Good Friday (3rd April) and will run weekly through the season. The format is simple and welcoming: an hour on the water from 5:00pm for supported sailing and confidence building, followed by short, fun races from 6:00pm. Sailing is open to Optimists, Mirrors (including parent & child teams), club Fevas for those ready to rig and sail independently and any other youth handicap boats.

Friday sailing is parent-led, and we ask that parents stay and get involved while their children are on the water. Whether that's helping launch and recover boats, supporting from the shore, crewing in a Mirror, assisting on the water, or assisting the Race Officer, everyone can play a part; no sailing experience needed. Please come prepared with wellies or waders and a buoyancy aid so you can get stuck in.

420 INLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 21 & 22/3/26 RUTLAND SC

Light winds limited the event to just two races. Neil Marsden and Merle Nieuwland (BFYC) had two wins and therefore overall winner, Harry George (Lymington Town SC) and Olivia Creasy 3rd overall, Patrick Bromilow and Thomas Kelsall 10th, Isobel Sandow and Edie Rogers 19th & 2nd Open Female category, Eve Bromilow and Tom Underwood 21st & 1st U17 Mixed. All sailors WKSC unless otherwise mentioned.

Eve Bromilow and Tom Underwood at Rutland 420 Inlands

Neil Marsden and Merle Nieuwland at Rutland 420 Inlands

Patrick Bromilow and Thomas Kelsall at Rutland Inlands

MIRROR UPDATE

MIRROR SPECIAL INAUGURAL EVENT

The first Mirror gathering day, at the club and on the lake as a class = Saturday 25th April

This is the day when we meet or beat the target of 15 x boats on the water.

If the weather turns out to be grim in any way (rain and/or too windy) a second date = 23rd May.

Both days are Saturdays.

These dates do not clash with other club events. 

Hopefully these dates give us the chance of completing as many project boats as possible.

Many of the Mirrors will be on the water before hand - that is good and helps to focus on making this event very special ….

MAXIMUM IMPACT !!!

If you can't make it please let me know.

If you can make it - great - please let me know ! It can be moved at this stage in the planning.

There will be a BBQ celebration late afternoon / early evening when our families might swell the celebration numbers… please invite them. We also invite all  club sailors and club members to come along and join us for the BBQ on this special day. We will open a list for the purposes of catering !!

MAXIMUM IMPACT !!!

It is expected that in the morning will be taken up bringing Mirrors to the club and rigging up. 

After a quick lunch getting a minimum of 15 x Mirrors on the lake will be attempted with as many juniors getting a sail as possible.

MAXIMUM IMPACT !!!

Then there will be a fun race - the first ever Mirror Class Race at WKSC 

(as far as I know).

Are you excited? I am !

See pictures: 

Bob Jarvis's Mirror Toffee

Bob Mosedale's Mirror 'Gravy Boat' in progress will soon be at the club.

Nearly there - Bob Mosedales Mirror

Just some fittings now … Bob Mosedales Mirror

Racking for Mirrors in development

That's it for this week.

Tony Marston 

Sailing Secretary

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

Training

New Activity - Let's Launch

Click here to book your Training Courses  

Events

Star Party - Saturday 11th April

Wilson Brunch - Sunday 26th April

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 272742.

If you would like something added to the newsletter please contact newsletter@wksc.org.uk

Last updated 10:48 on 25 March 2026