West Kirby Sailing Club

West Kirby Sailing Club

. Dinghies sail on the Marine Lake but larger boats use the very tidal estuary. West Kirby SC is famous for its Wilson Trophy an international team racing event which has been held every year since 1949.

History

West Kirby Sailing Club was formed in 1901 and has grown into one of the largest sailing clubs in the UK. It all started in the Hydropathic Hotel, a building which has since been demolished and replaced with the Hilbre Court. A small group of gentlemen wanted to form a club from which to sail on the recently built marine lake. WKSC was born.

In the early days West Kirby SC met in a room in the hotel before moving into a club house and raced on the marine lake in 12ft dinghies.

In 1920 the Star fleet was bought from West Lancashire Yacht Club

In 1948 the first Wilson Trophy took place, it was then named the YRA Firefly Championships.

In 1953 a new purpose built clubhouse was errected and is still in use today, after many alterations. The new clubhouse would provide changing facilities and a comfortable place in which to run racing from.

In 1958 the first boat in the Hilbre fleet was built, the class was designed by Alan Buchannan.

In 1985 the marine lake wall which was built in 1899 was breached and it was WKSC members who came to the rescue, coming up with a plan to construct temporary repairs. Hoards of WKSC members took part in this operation and before long the hole in the wall was repaired and racing continued.

Unfortunately the repair didn't last that long, eventually it gave way and plans were drawn up for a new marine lake. The then commodore of the club had to fight hard to get it built and fight even harder to get it to the size it is. In 1986 West Kirby had its first season with racing only taking place on the River Dee.

In 1987 the new marine lake opened, with new pontoons and new slipways. WKSC also got a massive extension to the boat yard. The membership instantly increased.

In 1988 the inaugural Eric Twiname Championships were held at West Kirby and gave the club a chance to show how much it had grown up. HRH Princess Anne visited the club and presented the prizes to the competitors.

In 1995 the club ran the first IYRU(now ISAF) World Team Racing Championships. It took place over a week during the summer alongside the British Open Team Racing Championships for the Wilson Trophy.

[ [http://www.wksc.net/aboutWKSC/history.asp West Kirby Sailing Club] ]

Fleets

*Star
*Falcon
*Hilbre
*Firefly
*GP14
*Cadet
*Optimist
*Illusions
*Cruisers
*Lark
*Laser
*RS Feva
*Laser Pico

ee also

* [http://www.wksc.net/ West Kirby Sailing Club]

References


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