Newsletter 22 04 26
Published 17:00 on 22 Apr 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
A real mixed weekend on the water — too much breeze for the Presidents Race on Saturday, but Sunday certainly made up for it. Huge thanks to the Race Officers for keeping things moving at pace.
We also unveiled the Cannons (Carronades!) on Sunday afternoon, and they look fantastic. A big well done to Martin WJ for all his work; I think you will all agree, it's great to see them back!
I do want to touch briefly on something important: how we treat each other in the clubhouse.
We've had a couple of reports recently where new members haven't had the warmest of welcomes. If you see an unfamiliar face, the chances are they're not a random passerby — they're a new member taking their first steps into the Club. A friendly hello goes a long way.
On a related note, a word about hats. There's no written rule about them — it's simply an old tradition to remove them in the Club.
The spirit of it is straightforward:
- If a lady is wearing a hat, leave it be.
- If someone appears to have a medical reason, likewise.
- If someone simply doesn't know the tradition, a polite, quiet word is all that's needed.
We had an instance recently where a new gentleman, wearing sports kit in a sporting club, was shouted at across an empty room. He had no idea about the tradition and was understandably taken aback. That's not the impression we want to give.
We pride ourselves on being a welcoming, friendly Club. Traditions matter, but how we pass them on matters even more. A little kindness and a quiet explanation will always do the job better than a raised voice.
Thanks, as ever, for everything you do to make WKSC the place it is.
Chris
Sailing and Club Calendar - What's on this week
W4 & W5 Fast Handicap Wednesday 22 April, 19:00
W4 & W5 Novice Handicap Wednesday 22 April, 19:03
W4 & W5 Slow Handicap Wednesday 22 April, 19:06
Radio Sailing Thursday 23 April, 14:00
W4 & W5 GP14 Thursday 23 April, 19:00
W4 & W5 Lightning Thursday 23 April, 19:03
Illusion Friday 24 April, 14:00
W7 & W8 Optimist & Junior Handicap Friday 24 April, 18:00
W7 & W8 Mirror Friday 24 April, 18:03
MIRROR SPECIAL INAUGURAL EVENT Saturday 25 April
Wilson brunch Sunday 26 April, 10:00 - 13:00
Spring Lake 3 & 4 Fast Handicap (L) Sunday 26 April, 11:00
Spring Lake 3 & 4 Novice Handicap (L) Sunday 26 April, 11:03
Spring Lake 3 & 4 Slow Handicap (L) Sunday 26 April, 11:06
Smartphone Free Childhood Monday 27 April, 19:00 - 21:00
W6 & W7 Solo Tuesday 28 April, 19:00
W6 & W7 Laser Tuesday 28 April, 19:03
W6 & W7 Illusion Tuesday 28 April, 19:06
Gentlemen's Lunch Wednesday, 12:00 - 14:30
W6 & W7 Fast Handicap Wednesday 29 April, 19:00
W6 & W7 Novice Handicap Wednesday 29 April, 19:03
W6 & W7 Slow Handicap Wednesday 29 April, 19:06
News & Notices
77th Wilson Trophy - Help still needed with accommodation.
We have 3 Teams who still need accommodation.
Please help!
If you do host a Team, they become your friends, and most people who host ask for "Their Team" the next year!
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
Wilson Brunch This Sunday - Tickets behind the Bar
Don't forget to also grab some Wilson Brunch raffle tickets!!
Lost Property
Some jewellery has been found in the gentleman's changing room. Please contact the office if it is yours.
office@wksc.org.uk
Club Help
Do you have some spare time to help maintain our club?
We're looking for some members with decorating skills, joinery skills, happy to paint walls, fences etc. or just willing to join in and keep the clubhouse looking well maintained inside and out for years to come.
All materials will be supplied we just need a little help as and when there is a project to do.
Please contact Ross Capper on 07779 55 44 33.
Many thanks, I look forward to hearing from you.
Laser Vago Owner?
There is a Laser Vago in the club yard (see photos below) but we do not know who the owner is. If you are that person or know who is the owner please email boatstorage@wksc.org.uk to let us know Thank you Yard Manager
Junior Travellers Log Book Trophy
Radio Sailing News
It's good to see that evening sailing on the lake has resumed, so I thought it important to say that we radio sailors have been in action for the last four weeks. We sail on Thursday afternoons at 2 o'clock and we opened the season with 10 boats on the water. We are now well equipped with automatic starting equipment our own buoys, and the use of a rib to lay courses and act as safety boat.
We aim to sail eight quick races over about two hours, and this permits two discards. Enabling competitors to haul out and tune et cetera.
These are not toy boats, and are sufficiently challenging for the RYA at Weymouth to provide a number to their Olympic hopefuls to keep them sharp and stimulated. So to anyone in West Kirby starting racing please don't hesitate to come along and talk to us. Watch all the facets of racing at close quarters, far better than any computer simulator.
Martin Whittingham-Jones
The Galley
Seafood Shack is serving a delicious menu this week - Click here for the menu
Sailing Matters
COMING UP:
The GRAND MIRROR DAY Saturday 25/4/26:
This is the day when we plan to have at least 15 x Mirrors on the lake.
Gather on the lake apron from 10:00, rigging, chatting, comparing, photographing more chatting.
Lunch 12:00
Sailing 13:00
De rigging 15:30
BBQ 15:00
Do please come down to the lake in the afternoon and to see the fun, check out if we achieve the 15 x boat target, come to the BBQ afterwards 3-6pm and please let me know how many in your party want to enjoy the BBQ by sending an email to results@wksc.org.uk stating MIRROR BBQ, (Your Name) and how many of you. Thank you.
See handbook for all scheduled lake racing.
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A round up this last week's SAILING ACTIVITY home and away:
Wednesday 15/4/26 Evening Handicap Racing
Last Wednesday late afternoon it was windy. A SW wind blowing straight across the lake, white horses, 18kts +. In earlier years that might not have put me off but with an 8 year old crew (9 this week !) it was too much for either of us so I made the telephone call to say no sailing this evening. Big mistake - the wind dropped - we could have raced.
Six boats did however race Stuart Dawson won, Glyn Purnell 2nd, Owen Chambers 3rd. All sailing ILCA6s
Thursday for the GPs and Lightnings - blown off.
Friday for the Juniors and Mirrors - blown off. My crew was longing to sail. I thought the wind was easing down. We rigged up. The wind had eased … but not much and there were some pretty ferocious gusts.
I was thinking to myself, Is this a bit too risky? Are the bungs all in? Whats going to happen if we capsize?. There was a rib out giving junior sailors the experience of being towed about in the wind so rescue possible. I said to myself, we are only going down the lake and back a couple of times, only a couple of tacks, its not like we are going to sail round a course, we should be ok.
Risk analysis completed, crew still keen, off we went…. reaching …. well planing…. down the lake.
The crew was excited Never been this fast before, he said. Through a tack, ok, and now sheet in, hard on the wind, spray coming over (the crew), Im sheltered behind him. All good so far. Another tack, reach back down the lake then on to the last leg into the wind. The crew was getting wet and cold. Time up on this escapade. The Race Officer was right to call off the racing. But not wrong (in my opinion) to experience the elements and a stronger wind than wed sailed in together before. Good boat handling comes from practice and experience in varied conditions, tested by racing.
Saturday 18/4/26 The Presidents Race
Preparations had been going on throughout the week in anticipation of the Presidents Race. Meetings had been held to discuss Sailing Instructions, likely courses, a beach party of volunteers was established (some of them on crutches !), the Captains team and class supporters were organised for the launch of tidal class boats. All in vain the SW wind was up in the teens and with a 9.56 metre tide with a surge behind it - racing was simply not possible. Those that might have gone out would have been stuck out for the duration of the tide because the breaking waves on to the tidal slipway - would have been unpleasantly risky. Unfortunately we were also short on rescue crew for those conditions.
Fortunately though, the day was rescued with the unveiling of the beautifully restored carronades, Pauls BBQ afterwards accompanied by some welcome sunshine to brighten the mood.
Sunday 19/4/26 Tidal Racing Spring 1 & 2
In the words of a song by Dinah Washington (1959) What a difference a Day Makes….. Sunday was a simply perfect day, clear blue skies from dawn to dusk. I can get religous about such days… …He restores my soul…. (fromPsalm 23).
Certainly a welcome break form the frightening stuff from the day before.
All that planning for the Presidents Race wasnt wasted - we applied it to this days racing.
There were four starts (races) to be managed from Little Arvor, the committee boat for Falcons, Hilbres, Stars and Handicap Dinghies.
What joy to see 10 x Falcons, 3 x Hilbres, 4 x Stars and 18 x dinghies out on the estuary. Some novice sailors, new to all of it, took advantage of the conditions to potter about on the open waters of the Dee, safe despite their lack of knowledge and experience, in such benign conditions and with rescue boats buzzing about. Peter Davenport, one of our junior novice sailors completed both races in a club Pico - well done Peter - another personal best.
For full results go to wksc results but the winners were: Falcons: Richard Robin, Angus Armstrong, Pete Fisher, Hilbres: Jemima, Chris and Nick Riley, Stars: Vi & John Dowler, Fast Handicap Dinghies: IC Dan Skinner, PY High: Pico Peter Davenport.
It is right and proper to mention our oldest class, the Star, with four boats out racing and with a significant effort by Jean-Louis Simons to complete the renovation of Cygnus. There's a buzz in the Star class with many new members joining the association.
Sunday pictures courtesy of Alan Jenkins and Tony Marston
Dinghy Handicap start from the Committee boat in last Sundays Spring Series
Sundays tidal racing - Star beating against the flood tide
Sundays tidal racing Spring Series - Falcons
Sundays tidal racing - Hilbres
The President in hot pursuit of the Rileys
Sundays tidal racing for the Spring series
Good old Cygnus after a significant renovation by Jean-Louis Simons, rounding a mark.
Liz Potter sailing her Contender in Sundays Tidal Spring Series
Dan Skinner International Canoe
Won both races of Sundays fast handicap dinghies.
Jonathan Atkinson and crew sailing Night Hawk last Sunday
Tuesday 22/4/26 Lasers, Solos and Illusions
Back to trying conditions. Wind easterly and as Keith Roberts described to me the wind was coming in lumps. Needless to say there were many capsizes. Never the less, there were 12 racing. Andy Bell won the first race and Lee Mathews the second in the ILCA7s, Stuart Dawson won both races in ILCA6 and Wendy Shallcroft sailing her ILCA4 was happy to get round the course and finish ! The Solos and Illusions opted out of racing this evening.
WKSC Down South: 420 Spring Champs & 470 Ranker
WKSC was exceptionally well-represented at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) this past weekend across two major events.
420 Spring Championships
In the 17-boat 420 fleet, our sailors put in strong efforts across seven races:
Olivia Creasy (crewing for Harry George) secured a fantastic 2nd place overall with 21.0 net points, highlighted by a win in Race 3.
Neil Marsden and Eve Bromilow took 7th overall with 37.0 net points. In a brilliant display of versatility, Eve (who usually helms) teamed up to crew for Neil for the very first time at an event—and they ended their regatta on a massive high with a bullet in the final race!
Neil Marsden and Eve Bromilow 420s
Patrick Bromilow and Tom Kelsall finished right behind them in 8th place with 38.0 net points. Although it was a challenging weekend, they still flashed their undeniable speed, crossing the line 2nd in both Races 2 and 6.
Pat and Tom 420s
470 Olympic Double Handed Academy Ranker
In the 10-boat 470 fleet, Arwen Fflur and David Bromilow sailed brilliantly to take 2nd place overall with 33.0 net points and first mixed 470. They absolutely dominated the end of their 13-race series, taking the bullet in three of their last four races.
Arwen Fflur and David Bromilow
Exciting News: Following this strong performance, Arwen and David will now be supported by the RYA for the summer 470 junior events! We are currently awaiting the exact details of what this will entail, but it is a massive achievement.
Congratulations to all our sailors for continuing to do WKSC proud on the national stage!
Ill bring you news of Liz Potters exploits at the Daffodil Regatta at Ullswater YC for D-Zeros coming up this coming week and how we get on with the GRAND MIRROR DAY this coming Saturday.... but thats it for next week.
Tony Marston
Sailing Secretary
Training
New Activity - Let's Launch
Click here to book your Training Courses
PB2 Course
Events
Wilson Brunch - This Sunday 26th April - 11am - All welcome
Tickets behind the Bar. Also Wilson raffle tickets available.
Lightning 368 Open Championship - 5th July
Save the Date - Away Ball - Saturday 3rd October 2026
Tickets will go on sale next week.
Other Information
| Boats for Sale & Wanted |
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 21:44 on 22 April 2026