Home / Sailing / Sailing Matters 15th July 2026

Sailing Matters 15th July 2026

Coming up (Sailing very, very soon! ):

FRI 17/7/26 ROUND HILBRE RACE & JUNIOR REGATTA + MIRROR

SAT 18/7/26 DEE SC REGATTA

SUN 19/7/26 WEST KIRBY SC REGATTA - Food available from 17:00

MON 10/8/26 - FRI 14/8/26 WKSC SAILING EXTRAVAGANZA WEEK

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Im in a hurry. So much to do. Initiatives to work on, new initiatives to be developed, but immediate focus on events:

This week-end is REGATTA WEEKEND - a long week-end starting on Friday with the ROUND HILBRE RACE. Then its the JUNIOR REGATTA + MIRRORS Friday evening, DEE SC REGATTA ON SATURDAY, WEST KIRBY REGATTA on Sunday (food available after).

Lots of organisation - a lot has been done - still lots to do.

You could not wish for a better weather forecast. Who plans to sail? Answer - there will be the regulars - well done to all the regulars. Now then - who can I tempt to come out on the water and make it a spectacular sight? You only sail on a weekday evening? - make an exception - break the habit - go on join in the fun. You dont like racing? - dont race just go for a sail - sailing is for enjoyment - join in the fun - its your club - its a special week-end.

SPECIAL REQUEST: If you are planning to race in the Round Hilbre Race, Dee SC Regatta and or West Kirby Regatta please email your name, class and sail number to results@wksc.org.uk so that the files can be set up ready for the results.

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Weekly Roundup

Tuesday 7/7/26 SOLO, ILCA and ILLUSION

High pressure building and into the heatwave though pleasantly overcast on this evening with a 7 knot breeze.

SOLO

Martin Hartley took two wins from John Dixon and Chris Goswell in the first race and from John Dixon and Steve Ferrington in the second race. Six boats competing.

ILCA7

Stuart Dawson won the first race and Lee Matthews the second. Simon Johnson and Lee were 2nd and third in the first race with Jon Behan and Tony Clark 2nd and 3rd in the second race. 15 x boats competing.

ILCA6

A quiet evening for ILCA6s with just 3 x boats competing. David Caldwell won the first race and Richard Neale the second. Richard was 2nd in the first race and David 2nd in the second race. Who was 3rd? Josh Darby of training section fame but he was DNF (but he was 3rd).

ILLUSION

Two Illusions racing sailed by Peter Williams and David Pontin. That was the order of finishing in the first race and the other way round for the second.

Wednesday 8/7/26 HANDICAP RACING

5 to 8 Kts NNW

James Douglas (Laser) Wednesday Hcap Racing

Phil and Harry Shepherd (Albacore) Wednesday Handicap

Mike and Anne de St Paer winners of both Mirror Races last Wednesday evening

Mirrors racing last Wednesday evening

FAST

Two wins for Liz Potter (D-Zero) from James Douglas (ILCA7) 2nd and Judith Carter (Lightning) 3rd in the first race. Judith took a 2nd in the second race and Jon Carlin (Albacore) 3rd. Six x boats racing.

High PY

Five Mirrors comprised the high PY fleet. Mike and Anne St Paer won both races in Cmon Eileen one of the winters Mirror Project Boats. Oliver Adams crewing for TM came second and Derek Lyne 3rd. In the second race Bob Jarvis came 2nd with Rory Adams and Ted crewing for Sheena Davies 3rd.

Thursday 9/7/26 GP14, LIGHTNING and FIREFLY Thursday

GP14

Wind conditions much the same as the previous evening - NW 8 kts.

The winning ways continue for Kieron Inman and Paul Jenkins. Robert Thompson, Alan Jenkins 2nd and Paul Brereton ad Ian Johnson 3rd. It was the same order for the second race. Four boats competing.

LIGHTNING

I think the Lightning sailors were gathered round a tree sheltering from a storm overhead. The tree was struck by Lightning and only two were left and they are Judith Carter and Amy Watkins. But seriously, I do wonder what has happened to the rest. Judith had a win and Amy came second. Just two Lightning strikes in one race.

FIREFLY

With so many of the Firefly youth away at championships I was surprised that there were any Fireflies out but there were. Well done to Amber Price, Sophie Gatenby, Will Lycett and Ethan Austin for making it happen.

Friday 10/7/26 OPTIMIST, JUNIOR HANDICAP and MIRROR from John Elliott

OPTIMIST After last weeks boys club, it was back to the girls this week in the Optimists.

With numbers depleted as end of term events take place and summer holidays start Mollie and Daisy battled it out with Mollie eventually winning both races.

There was again a good breeze and the Optimists were joined by Harry Shepperd in a Pico and Phoebe and Bea in a Feva. Phoebe and Bea taking the honours in the first race, but with Harry opting to sail with full mainsail in the second race, he was able to snatch victory showing good speed!

Well done to all.

Dont forget the West Kirby JUNIOR REGATTA on Friday17/7/26, please see the poster! The Junior Regatta will have a Pirates of the Caribbean theme. All sailors are encouraged to dress accordingly and ensure they are appropriately armed with water pistols and the like. After the serious business of the regatta racing there'll be a no rules race during which weapons will be drawn and additional piracy related prizes awarded!!

All parents, Mirror fleet sailors, safety crew, flag officers etc are encouraged to join in along with anyone else who may be looking for an excuse to dust off the pirate outfit sat in the back of the wardrobe!

JUNIOR HANDICAP & MIRROR

(From Results team - apologies - we cant find trace of the raw results but when we do w will process and publish them).

Sunday 12/7/26 LAKE HANDICAP RACING

FAST

Easterly winds - never good on the lake and to make matters worse - a brisk breeze - but sunshine and warm.

Liz Potter (D-Zero) won the first race with Mike Betteridge (ILCA7) 2nd and Peter Jones (ILCA7)3rd.

Jon Behan (ILCA6) won the second race withJudith Carter (Lightning) 2nd and Liz Potter 3rd.

No High PY boats - Paer Davenport has upgraded to a BUZZ and now in the Fast Division.

WKSC ILLUSION REGATTA 2026 - Results and write up will appear in next weeks SAILING MATTERS along with all other Regatta Results and commentary.

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CHAMPIONSHIPS

DART WORLDS From Jean-Louis Simons

The Championship ended on Friday 11th, after a week of very light airs.

The race management team had a difficult time, but tried all they could to ensure a series of races took place. The only negatives were the lack of communication with the sailors, who often were left not knowing what was going on. The decision to leave us waiting indefinitely under the AP, rather then AP over 1, 2, or more hours, left some competitors rather frustrated. Still, I guess the RO kept her options open due to the unpredictable wind.

At the end, just 6 races were possible in very light airs, which for us, large than large, was frustrating on the water, but there again, very enjoyable off the water.

The biggest frustration for the competitors was being told first start day at 14.00, meaning you had to be there and rigging at 12.00 to sail at 13.00. Weather was fantastic but 35 degrees + with little to no shade areas. Then at 13.00, up goes the AP and on one day they finally raised the AP over A at 18.00. This meant we all were hanging around all afternoon, not able to do anything as we could be called out at any time. That, I think, is what got people really (something) off.

On one day, I just got fed up and hot, I told Steve that I wanted to go sailing anyway. We launched and one and 1/2 later, out goes the fleet for one race which should never have happened. The course was just 800 meters beat, with only the right hand having any wind. So 140 darts crammed by the committee boat, all tacking right. That really was bad!!

Editors note: JLS asked me not to publish this but I never do what I am told. I think you get the measure of frustration from JLSs report, from a championship with very little wind. See pics for other non sailing pleasures.

Dart18 Worlds waiting for the wind.

And … Sod it!! Me no longer waiting, me thirsty, me drinking!!

470 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - Gdynia Poland

First day of racing yesterday for Arwen and David, breeze was on & they managed some good results which they need to build on from.

420 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - Biscarrosse, Landes region of south-west France - from Sally Bromilow

This summer saw seven West Kirby Sailing Club sailors representing GBR at the 420 World Championships in Biscarrosse, in the beautiful Landes region of south-west France. Hosted by the Centre Nautique Biscarrosse Olympique (CNBO) on the shores of Lac de Biscarrosse, the event brought together almost 300 boats from more than 30 nations for a week of fantastic racing.

For Eve Bromilow and Tom Underwood, it was their first taste of International Championship competition. Patrick Bromilow and Tom Kelsall, together with Olivia Creasy sailing with Harry George, were competing in their final summer of 420 international events, producing some excellent individual race results along the way. Isobel Sandow and Edie Rogers were back for their third consecutive summer representing GBR, while Neil Marsden, sailing with Merle Nieuwland, had an outstanding championship, finishing as the top British boat with a top-ten overall result.

(Editor Note: I am awaiting the pic of Neil wearing the Yellow Jerseybeing championship leader one point. Alas the last two race results weren't so good and dragged him and Merle off the top spot but good to have been there none the less).

Olivia now heads straight to Nida, Lithuania, for the Junior European Championships.

As always, there was much more to the week than just the racing. Long, hot days in the boat park, making friends with sailors from around the world, plenty of boat fettling, and lots of support from parents, coaches and teammates made it an unforgettable experience. One of the biggest highlights was the traditional kit-swapping day at the end of the regatta, with sailors trading team shirts and souvenirs from around the world; a particular highlight for Edie who managed to bag a coveted Team Japan shirt!

WKSC was also represented behind the scenes, with Stephen Bromilow and Sam Sandow joining the event team on the water, volunteering on the committee boat and media RIB to help keep the championship running smoothly. Team Bromilow also towed the WKSC convoy of boats to and from France, with thanks to the club for loaning the triple stacker.

It's fantastic to see so many young sailors from WKSC competing on the international stage, and we're incredibly proud of everything they achieved. Congratulations to all our sailors, parents and volunteers for representing both GBR and West Kirby Sailing Club so brilliantly.

Eve Bromilow and Tom Underwood racing in their first international event - the 420 Worlds. Brilliant !