Newsletter 20 05 26
Published 20:00 on 20 May 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
After recovering from the hangover that was the Wilson Trophy, its time to focus on our own events for this year.
Yes — its the 125th Anniversary, or Sesquicentennial if you're feeling posh!
Were holding a three day celebration of the Sailing Club from 1214 June:
- Friday Junior-based activities (TBC).
- Saturday Cocktails & Canapés in the Main Room and out on the Terrace.
- Sunday Afternoon Tea, where we can relax and dissect the cocktail party in forensic detail.
And while were on the topic of celebrations, don't forget the 125th Anniversary Ball later in the year, held at the Royal Liver Suites, overlooking the River Mersey in Liverpool.
Tables of 10 — if you book together and let us know you're a group, well sort the rest.
Best Regards,
Chris
Sailing and Club Calendar - What's on this week
X3 & X4 Fast Handicap Wednesday 20 May, 19:00
X3 & X4 Novice Handicap Wednesday 20 May, 19:03
X3 & X4 Slow Handicap Wednesday 20 May, 19:06
Radio Sailing Thursday 21 May, 14:00
Calday CCF 2026 Thursday 21 May, 16:00-18:00
X3 & X4 GP14 Thursday 21 May, 19:00
X3 & X4 Lightning Thursday 21 May, 19:03
Illusion Friday 22 May, 14:00
Let's Launch 2026 Friday 22 May, 16:00-18:00
X3 & X4 Optimist & Junior Handicap Friday 22 May, 18:00
X3 & X4 Mirror Friday 22 May, 18:03
Saturday Morning Juniors (First Course) Saturday 23 May, 09:20-12:00
Spring Lake 5 & 6 Fast Handicap (L) Sunday 24 May, 11:00
Spring Lake 5 & 6 Novice Handicap (L) Sunday 24 May, 11:03
Spring Lake 5 & 6 Slow Handicap (L) Sunday 24 May, 11:06
Billy Wilson Pursuit Race All Dinghy Classes (L) Monday 25 May, 11:00
Monday Nights Adults First Course 2026 Monday 25 May, 18:30-20:30
X5 & X6 Solo Tuesday 26 May, 19:00
X5 & X6 Laser Tuesday 26 May, 19:03
X5 & X6 Illusion Tuesday 26 May, 19:06
Gentlemen's Lunch Wednesday, 12:00 - 14:30
News & Notices
Grand Mirror Day - This Saturday 10 am
Come down and join in the fun. All welcome.
For more details see below in Tony's Sailing Matters.
The Galley
Paul is serving a delicious menu this week - Click here for the menu
Sailing Matters
COMING UP (SAILING) :
SAT 23/5/26 MIRROR SPECIAL (addition to sailing programme)
SUN 24/5/26 Lake Racing Spring Lake 5&6
Mon 25/5/26 Billy Wilson Lake Pursuit Race30/5/26 - Spring Bank Holiday
SAT 30/5/26 PRESIDENTS RACE (change to sailing programme - instead of Coastal Dash)
SUN 31/5/26 Tidal Racing Spring Series + SOLO OPEN MEETING
SAT 13/6/26 LONG DISTANCE RACE
SUN 14/6/26 Tidal Racing Start of Summer Series + LASER OPEN MEETING
All lake races as per Sailing Programme in handbook
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With escalating fuel prices, pot holes in the roads, 20mph speed limits, bank holiday traffic, security checks and chaos at passport control….. it all adds up to a very good reason for the only destination you need this coming week-end is West Kirby Sailing Club.
Come along and join us for the:
GRAND MIRROR DAY No.2 this coming Saturday. Similar to No.1 we will gather from 10:00 onwards on the lake apron, rigging and chatting! Have a go in a Mirror… just a quick up and down the lake - go on - have a go. Some organised sailing will happen between 12:00 and 14:30*. There will be food available at the club from 14:30 to 16:00.
*The organised sailing will include A dash for ICE CREAM at the other end of the lake, a follow my leader procession (for publicity purposes), depending on the wind strength - a raft up, a rowing race (bring oars). The rest is secret and will be revealed on the day. Its not to be missed. Bring a deck chair.
The BILLY WILSON PURSUIT RACE (Bank Holiday Monday 30/5/26)
This is great fun if the weather behaves. Open to all dinghy classes including Optimists on the lake,
The race is based on the slowest boat taking 90 minutes. Faster boats will take less time and will start after the slowest boat dependent on their PY handicap. The fastest boat on PY starts last. All boats gather on the lake apron ready for the slowest boat to start with a hearty cheer from the rest at 11:00. I am the Race Officer and I will tell each class in turn when they can start. They may have their boats on the water but they must all be at the jetties or south of them before their start. I will publish a list of start times by Friday evening.
PLEASE ENTER BY EMAILING RESULTS@WKSC.ORG.UK giving Your Class (if Laser : ILCA7, ILCA6, ILCA4),Sail Number, Helm name, Crew Name(s). Go on do it now ! Please. Full SIs & Times will be published by Friday evening.
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The last week:
GP Thursday 14/5/26 Windy - Just one race sailed before two squalls met on the lake creating a new sailing resulting in exclamations such a Zut alors ! and ee lad what the eck was that? as the various competitors swam back to their boats. Kieron Inman and Paul Jenkins finished under genoa alone - they won, Jean-Louis Simons with Hollie Marston finished second after their capsize. The only finishers. Race 2 was postponed.
Optimists, Junior handicap - Friday 15/5/26
It had been very windy during the afternoon but the wind dropped fair bit before the late afternoon juniors sailing but not enough to make racing viable for the Optimists. Matt Geddes reports:
Firstly a big thanks to Liz Potter and Judith Carter for stepping in to RO duties.
It was a brisk evening!
Well done to all who rigged up and launched their boats: Alice, Charlie, Seb, Ted, Sophie and Theo.
All kitted up in helmets...safety first!
Theo, Ted and Seb all left the jetties in some challenging gusts.
Ted and Seb who had planned to race for the first time found the conditions to be too much and quickly returned ashore, but a big high 5 for giving it a go!
Theo made for the start line. The others decided the conditions weren't for them.
Theo completed the 2 races as a solo Oppy alongside the 3 mirrors also out enjoying the breeze!
First beat proved a bit challenging but it clicked after that, with him finishing both races in time for a rib ride with the rest of the gang.
Not surprisingly Theo was this weeks recipient of the Oppy Helm of the Week trophy.
Theo Geddes sailing his Optimist last Friday in breezy conditions.
The fact we had 6 rigged up to go with 3 notable absences is really promising. We're on the cusp of breaking into double figures of Oppy racers which would be a brilliant milestone to achieve
MIRRORS Friday 16/5/26
Oliver Adams crewing for TM won the first race with Margo Melling crewing for MM were second. It was all about the start. Harry Marston crewing for JM won the start of the second race and went on to win the race from Oliver and TM second and Margo and MM third.
SOLOS / LASERS and ILLUSIONS Tuesday 19/5/26 (last night)
Breezy and raining.
SOLO
Just two Solos planing round a reachy course. inevitable when the wind is blowing straight across the lake. Chris Goswell won the first and Bob Mosedale the second.
LASER
Simon Johnson won the R1 from Gavin Roberts 2nd and Tom Green 3rd. It was the same three for race 2.
& x boats competing.
LASER RADIAL
Just Richard Neale in the radial this evening. Guess who won? Clue: He finished both races.
The Mostyn Race Saturday 16/5/26 attracted an entry of 26 boats. There was a very light breeze to get the fleet away from the start line but it was fickle at best. Not surprisingly it wasnt long before the retirements started. Time ticked on. Most of the fleet made progress, albeit slowly, across the estuary. The wind on the Welsh side was even weaker than on the Wirral side.
As the flood tide eased quite a number of boats approached the S4 buoy, the turning mark. The question was, would any boats make it back to the finish line before the 150 minute time limit expired. The answer was one just two: an International Canoe sailed by Alistair Alston who took line honours and a Phantom sailed by Andrew Potter, who won on handicap.
The time limit expired and RIBS were able to tow boats back either to moorings or to within easy reach of the slipway so that all could be recovered safely ashore before the tide finally ebbed away.
The Mostyn Race gets underway in light airs.
Sundays Tidal Racing and GP14 Open Event 17/5/26.
Some 36 x boats were out racing on the estuary in great sailing conditions….. not been able to write that for a while. The scheduled start time was quite early and as members arrived at the club there was an ominous black cloud and rain mostly on the Welsh side of the estuary, that together with the brisk breeze that was blowing sadly put quite a few sailors off otherwise we wold have had over 40 x boats on the water.
The sun came out, the breeze steadied and all those competing enjoyed some good racing. It certainly made up for the near drifting conditions of the Mostyn Race the day before.
In the Falcons Night Hawk -Jonathan Atkinson, Terry had a good start in the first race and held the lead throughout the race to win from Hawkeye - Mike Hartley, Ali Pharaoh and Steve Bromilow and Harrier - Richard Robinson, Hollie Marston and Richard Booth third.
In the second race it was Harrier who won from Hawkeye with Hawkwind - Jamie Marston, Ella Marston and Jonny Cross third.
Hilbres had four racing. Hirondelle - Jemima, Chris and Nick Riley had two wins, Hie - Chris Booth and Ian Clarke second in the first race, High Hat - David Pontin and David Moore second in the second race and Hinemoa - Bob jarvis and Phil Oliver third in both races.
Good numbers in the Falcon Fleet on Sunday last.
GP14 Open Meeting and Dinghy Handicap Sailing Sunday 17th May (by Mike De St Paer the Race Officer)
Sunday's tidal dinghy racing saw over 20 boats on the water, including 10 GP14s who were competing in a round of the GP14 N.West circuit. This included four visitors who made it to WKSC for some tidal sailing practice, and very happily the conditions delivered with some sunshine (once the rain had gone through) and a solid force 3 W.N.W breeze by the end of the day.
With the GPs scheduled to do three races there was pressure to get away on time at 10.30, and this was helped by a 9.4m tide enabling everyone to launch promptly. As the two fleets included club sailors it was agreed to use a standard triangle with upwind gate course which provided some interesting reaches for everyone.
Mark Platt (Bolton SC) put in two bullets but then had to retire with a broken kite pole, leaving Russ and Ali Cormack (Budworth SC) to win the third race and secure a second overall one point clear of Sam Platt (Bolton SC) who in turn pipped Kieron Inman and Paul Jenkins (WKSC) right on the line of the third race. Good competitive racing with both the reaches kiteable sometimes but not others.
In the handicap fleet Jonathan Behan (Laser Radial) sailed excellently to two well deserved first places, followed by Ioannis Koutsokeras (Laser Radial) and Andrew Potter (Phantom) in race one, and Liz Potter (Contender) and Ioannis in race two. There were a couple of capsizes which, given the bumpy conditions once the tide had turned was very understandable, but otherwise a hassle free and enjoyable day on the water.
Big thank you to everyone who helped, and to Kieron and Paul for cooking the food!
That's it for this week.
Tony Marston
Sailing Secretary
Training
New Activity - Let's Launch
Click here to book your Training Courses
Events
Lightning 368 Open Championship - 5th July
Menai Strait Regattas 27th July - 8th August 2026
WKSC 125th Anniversary Away Ball - Saturday 3rd October 2026 - BOOK NOW!
You must be logged in to purchase tickets but you are welcome to book for non-members.
Menu
Starter - Pork Terrine, with Pineapple Salsa, Slaw & Pork Scratching, Cajun Style Dressing.
Main - Slow Cooked Featherblade of Beef, Celeriac Puree, Fondant Potato, Green Beans, Red Wine Jus.
Dessert - Sticky Toffee Pudding, Butterscotch Sauce, Clotted Cream.
Vegetarian and other dietary requirements available.
Other Information
| Boats for Sale |
Boats for sale - Click here to view all Boats for Sale on the website.NEW RS FEVA XL NEW ISO |
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Last updated 10:38 on 21 May 2026