Dinghies and Falcons: Invoices are being sent out in the next few days for berths in the yard and lake licences where applicable. If you are intending to remove your boat from the yard please email boatstorage@wksc.org.uk as soon as possible. Please note that the club has an en bloc lake licence agreement with the Council for the year to 31 March 2027 and has sole responsibility for collecting lake licence fees for members boats. We have been able to hold the licence fee at the same level as last year which we hope will help sailors. After payment you will be issued with a lake licence which we kindly ask you to display on your mast. If you need a lake licence but have not been invoiced or have any other queries please email boatstorage@wksc.org.uk.

Cruisers, Hilbres and Stars: invoices will be issued in due course.

As always, the yard will be very congested in April so please bear with us and do not bring your boat down until you intend to sail.

Boat Storage Manager

Once payment has been processed your lake licence sticker will be available to collect from the pigeonholes.

Any queries please speak to Jill Marsh in office

Presidents Race

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):

Its all lake racing until the PRESIDENTS RACE on Saturday 18/4/26 followed by the Start of the season Tidal Racing on Sunday 19/4/26.
Followed a week later by the MIRROR KICK OFF DAY 25/4/26

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

—————————————————————————————————————————

A lot can happen over the course of a week, especially when it's the first week of the main season.

MIDWEEK RACING Wed 1/4/26, Thu 2/4/26
Taking things in chronological order we start with the Wednesday evening before Easter for the handicap racing. There was a forecast for reasonable conditions but with a threat of increasing wind and rain as the weather pattern changed. The rain arrived first. I had planned to race my Mirror. I don't expect you to understand this but I don't like sailing in the rain. I dont mind capsizing and falling in, I dont mind getting waves blasting over me but when the waters coming at me from above as well as below, if I have a choice I wont be doing it. And I wasn't alone, all three Mirrors and a Heron decided against sailing.

But we watched with excitement and guilty pleasure as the wind suddenly picked up capsizing the unwary. Matt Geddes raced to put a rib in the lake… and was busy ensuring everyone was safely recovered without too much trauma. The wind stayed up. Junior sailors Amber Price and Theo Geddes came ashore after capsizing a Feva, with smiling faces… they were tested and survived (and enjoyed every minute ! ) Two more juniors Eve Bromilow and Tom Underwood, further up the age and experience ladder, survived without a capsize and demonstrated good boat handling bringing their 420 in downwind, rounding up well to a gentle stop by the jetty. We are lucky to have the lake for such conditions.

Harry Pye sailing his RS Aero won this first race of the W Series with Liz Potter, D-Zero second and Steve Jardine, ILCA7 third.

Thursday evenings GP and Lightning races, again like Wednesday, the first race of the W Series was sailed in a predominately SW airstream though shifting about making it hard for the RO to set a decent course. He eventually settled on using most of the marks on the lake. Kieron Inman and Paul Jenkins carried on their winning ways from Jean-Louis Simons and Liz Potter second and Robert Thompson and Alan Jenkins third. Five GPs racing.

The three Lightings were sailed by Judith Carter, Amy Watkins and Keith Golder. Keith made it onto the water but didn't make the start. One problem with the RO making up a course is that for single handers its quite an ask to record with something, on something, a lot of buoys and which way round them to go …. whilst sailing the boat on your own and trying to figure out what all the flags mean when you have rushed home from work to go racing. I was that RO and it was too much to ask and nobody finished ! Im sorry - Ill try harder - You too must try harder ! Gareth Owens 7 x Ps Rule is made available to you: Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents P(?) Poor Performance.

Friday evening Junior and family sailing was blown off -the change of weather had set in. It didn't stop the enthusiasts coming to the club to talk up Wednesday nights adventure !!

Two weekends together when the weather was against us - well almost.
EASTER

As previously recorded the UKTRA TeamRacing event was blown off then Easter, with the promise of 4 days of tidal sailing, was also blown off with Storm Dave racing through and a pattern of strong winds persisting through the hours of daylight for many days.

Debris in the yard after Storm Dave

Dee SC weather station recorded a gust of 70 kts on Saturday night around midnight. Sadly there was some damage to boats in our yard and to covers of boats. DSC tried hard to get at least one days racing in for the Dart Open Event. I was watching the 9 x Darts that ventured out on the estuary (out of an entry of 25) through the WKSCs binoculars at the top of the stairs, as they raced around the first lap of the course. I had been measuring a steady 20kts on a hand held anemometer on the tidal slipway before ascending the staircase to the binoculars. Called away home I left just a bit too soon. The fun happened on the second upwind leg as the wind shifted up a gear to 30kts with a gust up 40kts. That finished off the racing ! Darts were recovered from the marshes and by Sallys Cottage but thankfully no one was hurt and no Darts were damaged.

EASTER MONDAY on the lake
There was just enough moderation in the wind by Monday to run two spirited races on the lake for a 12 strong group of enthusiasts that turned out. Moderation - yes but still very breezy and still blowing off the cobwebs after winter for quite a few. Andy Bell (ILCA7) won overall with a 1,2. Liz Potter sailing her Contender was second with a 3,1 and Jon Behan was third with a 2,3.

Also out on the water were three Optimists sailed by Amber Price Theo Geddes and Alice Parkey-Pharaoh, getting some practise in before the Friday evening Junior/Family sailing gets underway.

Just to round things off and in lieu of a Prize Giving which we will get round to eventually, there was a Kit Kat presentation to all sailors of the day plus the RO. What was that all about you may ask. Liz Potter was telling us that there had been a theft in Italy of 12 tons of Kit Kats (413,793 KitKats ! ) Now, quite how Liz ended up with a whole pile of them I know not. Liz will explain in due course no doubt.

Easter Monday Racing on the lake

Easter Monday Racing on the lake (pics Alan Jenkins

JUNIOR SAILING NEWS

Amber varnishing her Mirror

It was my intention to include in last week's newsletter the following report from Sally Bromilow to the last General Committee Meeting but somehow I failed but its still absolutely relevant and I include this week below. Just to add that theres a good bunch of our juniors down at Hayling Island SC for the RYA Youth Nationals this week.

WKSC Juniors report for GC

Junior Steering Group

An inaugural Junior Steering Group meeting was held on the evening of Friday 20th March. The intention of the group is to be an open and welcoming monthly forum where Junior Sailing matters can be discussed. All junior parents/guardians and sailors are welcome to come along. The next one is scheduled for Friday 1st May at 7.30pm in the Macdona Room. Initial attendees: Tony Marston, Sally Bromilow, Gary Price, John Elliott, Ali Pharoah, Matt Melling, Matt Geddes, Stephen Butler.

Matt Geddes has agreed to be Optimist Fleet Captain for this coming season Matt Melling has agreed to be Mirror contact for the fleet, assisting Tony M

The group needs a Feva contact to signpost/support sailors from training courses or those who wish to give Feva sailing a go on a Friday.

Stephen Butler agreed to be a link with the Ribs, but advised that he wont be around every week.

Friday Junior Sailing format

Friday junior sailing returns this Friday 3rd April. The format is simple:

Supported Sailing from 5pm, all classes, confidence building and skills development, sailors encouraged to move into;
Coached Racing from 6pm, optimist start and Mirrors/youth handicap start. Simple short, fun races, simple courses WW/LW, box course etc. Important to note: Fridays have been successful in the past due to being a Parent led activity; therefore, we are reinforcing that all parents are to be involved and take a role in supporting. This is not a drop off activity. Plenty of roles to do, and no sailing experience is needed. Parents should come prepared with wellies/waders, buoyancy aid so they can get involved. It is unfair to expect the volunteer parents to supervise other children/sailors whose parents are in the bar. This was common last season and is unacceptable. DBS check requirements have been communicated to parents. Matt Geddes will be sending a poll out on the Optimist Whatsapp group each week to get volunteers for rib launch/recovery and rib drivers/crew. Assistance from Boatshed would be appreciated to help the newer parents in the first instance with ribs/tractor until they are up and running and sufficiently confident for the season.

Junior pre-season Shakedown

Junior parents organised a pre-season shakedown last Friday 27th March, a good number came along, about 10 juniors, to check over their boats before the new season this Friday, mainly optimist sailors. Hopefully regular activity of a core group will attract others if the activity is visible. The optimist fleet, led by Matt seems to be self organising in a positive way. It would be good for other groups of juniors mirrors, fevas, any other groups wishing to join in. The key is to have a few parents taking smaller roles between them to generate and help keep the activity going. Share the load of organisation between a few parents.

If Michèle has any sailors from the training programmes who would like to come down on a Friday to sail a Feva if they dont have their own boat, please contact Sally or any of the Steering Group. We will organise a Feva rigging and launching session to show any newcomers the ropes if there is appetite. We may have older juniors eg. Eve, Sophie, Tom who could take out less experienced crew in a feva for a sail if theyd like.

Competing/Travelling Juniors

Our 420 sailors have been taking part in their qualification series for their Summer international events, with Q1 at Draycote and Q2 at Rutland now complete, they just have the RYA Youth Nationals to take part in starting next week at Haying Island. Eve and Tom as well as being part of the new RYA Talent Academy at LLSC have been regularly racing in the club lake and tidal series when they have been at home as part of their training and enjoyment and their improvement in doing so has been evident.

Our new 470 pairing Arwen and David, (not strictly juniors now!) have been in mainland Europe for the last couple of months and are now in Palma for the Trofeo Princesa Sofia. As a new pairing their regattas are process driven, with an outcome goal of obtaining a Gold fleet finish to gain a funded place in the RYA British Sailing Squad. They are coming home next weekend and have a selection event at WPNSA at the end of April to qualify for a supported place at the Junior Europeans in Nida, Lithuania in July.

Tony Marston

Sailing Secretary

Training

New Activity - Let's Launch

Click here to book your Training Courses

Events

Star Party - Saturday 11th April

Hilbre Cheese & Wine - Sunday 12th 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 16:03 on 8 April 2026

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Newsletter 08 04 26

Published 16:00 on 8 Apr 2026

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