News Archive
Menai
Strait Regattas 2013
Competitors' Entry Update 3rd August - 17th August 2013
Dear Friends
We normally drop you a line at this time of year to wish you a merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
This year due to financial restraints, your committee have decided to e-mail the Christmas message together with the regatta poster.Those of you who were with us sailing in August 2012 enjoyed racing in the first week when Caernarfon certainly proved to be a suntrap! Unfortunately the second week off Beaumaris turned out to be one of the windiest ever with three days blown off. This lack of racing was unfortunate for our sailors and made a large dent in our daily receipts.
However, entries were again up on last year with over 60 boats sailing under the bridges, many new dinghy sailors joined us on the Menai Strait, which gives your committee heart.Events off the water such as the Boatmen's Party, Star B-B-Q, Hilbre Cocktail Party, Fife Dance, Regatta Service and final night prize giving were as popular as ever and the town had a real buzz!
In 2013 The Menai Strait One Design Club celebrate their 75th anniversary of the formation of the club at Beaumaris, they promise to put on a bit of a show!
Those of you who were with us last year, saw a new programme being produced with a quality set of sailing instructions which didn't disintegrate in your hand when wet!!!
Sarah Laing our editor will continue to improve on last year's edition, we also celebrate with her news that there will be another addition to her crew in 2013!!!In 2013 the series racing starts on Monday 5th August with Royal Dee YC and finishes two weeks on Saturday 17th August with Royal Anglesey YC, there will be the usual competitors events throughout the fortnight. Tides can always be difficult so we have attempted to give you the best racing possible and allow time for social enjoyment.
Prize giving will be held on Saturday evening 17th in the Royal Anglesey Yacht Club, with a social event to follow.
When you think of 2013, I hope you will again include The Menai Strait Regatta in your plans. A poster is attached to give you the dates and the provisional start times to assist in your planning
The Classic Regatta
Your regatta depends on the entry of you, your friends and family. We look forward to welcoming you again. To improve your regatta, why not ask extra boats (and friends) from your fleet to sail with us.We all look forward to your company again.
It's a great place to make and renew friendships.
Richard A Booth (Chairman)
15 Frankby Close, Greasby, Wirral CH49 3PT
0151 677 1264 Mobile 07747806655
E-mail Richard@crystal-clear1.demon.co.uk 0r Chairman@menaistraitregattas.org.uk
Menai
Strait Regattas 2012
The final race results are now available, please click here
Round the Island Race 2012 Results
The results of the 2012 Round the Island Race are now available
Menai Strait Regattas 2012
SPRINT ROWING RACES
CELTIC LONG BOATS
As part of the
MENAI STRAIT REGATTAS
9TH August 12 .00 and 14.30
10th August 14.30 and 15.00
A new and exciting inclusion during the Menai Strait Regattas,
"Five Celtic Rowing Teams will take part in racing off Caernarfon during the Regattas"
Boats which can reach speeds of 10 knots with a team of five and will be racing off Caernarfon,
races start from underneath the castle and race for 1000 metres what a spectator sport.
Sponsored by the Royal Anglesey Yacht Club
Viewed from the Royal Welsh Yacht Club, Porth yr Aur, Caernarfon
For more information contact:
Sarah Roberts, RWYC, sarah_llanfaglan@hotmail.com
www.menaistraitregattas.org.uk
Menai Strait Regattas 2012
The entry form for this year’s Regatta is now available (click above) and early entry does assist us in the planning and preparation of the event. So please enter ASAP, and encourage members of your club and class, to enter.
ONCE AGAIN THERE IS NO INCREASE IN THE ENTRY FEE
and we are still offering half price car parking at Beaumaris!!!
Please pay for Car Park Pass with entry fee.
Saturday 4th August Round Anglesey Race starting and finishing at Menai Bridge.
Sunday 5th August Red Wharf Bay Sailing & Water Sports Club dinghy race start 1300Team Race Fife Class v Royal Mersey in Fifes, plus open race for those wishing to get on the water.
Monday 6th August Regatta starts with Royal Dee YC at Beaumaris, and later RDYC Cocktail Party.
Wednesday 8th August Race through from Beaumaris to Caernarfon.
A coach will be available for return to Beaumaris. Please book your places on the notice board in RAYC
Thursday 9th August Boatmen’s Party at RAYC all welcome if you can cope!!!
Royal Welsh YC and Caernarfon SC will be using GROUP STARTS for both regattas see 7.1 in Sailing Instructions.
Dinghies at Caernarfon. No more dragging your boat over the foreshore, we have been allowed access
to Menai Marine Victoria slipway. You can rig your boat and the bridge will be lifted for access to the marina.
Dock Mooring in Caernarfon will be available as last year on the sea wall.Friday 10th August Sail down to Port Dinorwic after racing half tide dock and moorings available.
Saturday 11th August Coach available from Beaumaris to Port Dinorwic.Port Dinorwic Tides will allow us to race at PD and then return to Beaumaris, HW slack 1647, home in time for late tea!
Sunday 12th August 11am Church Service for all sailors and their families.
Followed by RAYC reception entry by ticket.
Monday 13th August racing starts again hosted by Menai Bridge.
First week and MBBC prize giving held 1800 hrs at Hotel Victoria, Menai Bridge. Plus Hilbre Cocktail party in RAYC.
Tuesday 14th August Star Class B-B-Q in RAYC. Food Prepared by White Lion Chef!
Wednesday 15th August Hoylake SC 125th Anniversary Dinner at Bulkeley Hotel.
Thursday 16th August Royal Mersey YC Cocktail Party
Friday 17th August Fife Class party in The Town Hall, Beaumaris!
Saturday 18th August Final night party and prize giving at RAYC.
Sailing Briefings will not be held this year keep an eye on Notice Board in RAYC. Safety briefing will be held 1800 Sunday 5th August for our safety crew.
Moorings. If your class requires them, they should be booked early via Shaun McLoughlin, Regatta Secretary or on your Entry Form.
Protests. We are again using the RYA Best Practice Rules Dispute Arbitration as an alternative. Full details will be on the notice board in RAYC.
Weather forecasts available from Mesoscale via Regatta web page link
2013 Regatta Saturday 3rd August to Saturday 17th August. First race Monday 5th August.
Please return all trophies as early as possible to the Regatta Office. See Anne Wilson or Shaun
McLoughlin. Please clean them, “Remember a trophy is for one year not life”. (Thanks Alister!)
We look forward to your company again. It’s a great place to meet and renew friendships.
Regatta Chairman Richard A Booth Tel: 0151 677 1264 e-mail: Chairman@Menaistraitregattas.org.uk
Regatta Secretary Shaun McLoughlin Tel: 01248 810354 e-mail: semcloughlin@gmail.com
Menai Strait Regattas 2012
Click here for the Competitors Entry Update from the Regattas Chairman
Click here to download the Regattas Poster
Menai Strait Regattas 2012
Click here for the 2012 racing schedule
Round the Island Race 2011 Results
The results of the 2011 Round the Island Race are now available
Menai Strait Regattas - 2011 Final Results
The Final results for the 2011 Regattas are now available.
Menai Strait Regattas 2011
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Time to Enter- NOW!!!!
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Entry forms for this year's Regatta can be downloaded from the Entry Page on this website and early entry does assist us in the planning and preparation of the event. Please enter ASAP, and encourage members of your club and class, to enter.
Saturday 30th July Round Anglesey Race starting and finishing
at Menai Bridge. Please return all trophies as early as possible to
the Regatta Office. Mrs Anne Wilson is now in charge of trophies please
make yourself known to her.
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| Entries please to Chris Kay, 19 Hall Road East, Blundellsands, Liverpool,
L23 8TT 0151 924 4148 e-mail: mail@kayliv.co.uk |
| Regatta Chairman: Richard A Booth 0151 677 1264 e-mail: chairman@menaistraitregattas.org.uk Regatta Secretary: Shaun McLoughlin 01248 810354 e-mail: shaun@semcloughlin.demon.co.uk |
Menai Strait Regattas 2011
Beaumaris Pier
Work has now commenced on the refurbishment and extension of Beaumaris Pier. As shown above a new section of
to the Pier will be added providing deep water access to the Pier for larger vessels.
During this work boats will be able to still access the pier and temporary dinghy storage has been organised as shown below
whilst the contractors are using the dinghy yard at the end of the pier.
Round Anglesey Race 2011
Saturday 30th July 2011
The Menai Boat club have revised information on the Round Anglesey Race 2011
and are now taking entries for the 2011 Round Anglesey Race
Click the link below
Menai Strait Regattas 2011
The Menai Strait Combined Regattas Committee is pleased to announce their continuing affiliation to the Royal Yachting Association
RMYC Mylne Fleet
75 Years of Mersey Mylnes
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Splendid photographs and a really interesting article celebrating 75 years of the Royal Mersey Mylnes sailing on the River Mersey under the RMYC Burgee. 75 Years of Mersey Mylnes in the December Issue of Classic Boat magazine - click picture to visit magazine website
NOTE: Errata page 39 - Paragraph 'Compelling clubhouse' for '1884' read 'formed in 1844 |
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Menai Strait Regattas 2011
The Menai Strait Combined Regattas Committee has appointed Shaun McLoughlin as Hon Secretary and wish him every success in this post.
The Committee also express there gratitude to the outgoing Hon Secretary Mr D Challinor for all his Services to the Committee.
Menai Strait Regattas 2010
Click here for the results for the 2010 Race Results
Star Preston-built boat sails Strait on
Article from the Lancashire Evening post published on Mon 12 Jul 2010
LIVING HISTORY: Richard and Clare Booth with friend Dave Challinor in Vega (left) and David and Sally Mayhew with son Jack and Billy the dog in Jupiter (right) sailing on the Menai Strait in 2009.
Built in Preston 104 years ago and sailed in Southport before the First World War, Vega is not for giving up.
And neither is the Star class boat’s current owner Richard Booth who
has sailed her in the Menai Strait Regatta, for 20 years winning several trophies
along the way.
The retired policeman who lives in the Wirral said: “She was designed by George Cockshott for the West Lancashire Yacht Club who raced successfully at Southport until 1920. And new she cost just £32!
“I would love to hear if anyone else in the Lancashire area still has one of these yachts. “The official name is a gunter rig and it’s a beautiful boat although it would cost a bit more than £32 at today’s prices.”
Originally about 12 star class boats were built at Lathoms boatyard in Hesketh Bank, and were used by the West Lancashire Yacht Club in Southport.
They were then sold on to the West Kirby Sailing Club, where Richard Booth is a member.
Richard said: “They are lovely boats, so traditional, and very pretty to photograph and you can sail them easily with three people.
“We sail her all summer then repair her all winter.”
Vega will be one of more than 250 yachts competing in this year’s Menai Strait Regatta from July 24 to August 6.
The popular event is celebrating its 180th anniversary this year.
Round the Island Race 2010
Photos sent in from the 2010 Around the Island race by Dave Clough, NWVYC
Click here to download the Final Round the Island Race results
RMYC Mylne Fleet
A new, interesting and well researched History of the Royal Mersey Mylnes
by Hon. Commodore Chris Kay is now available price £7 plus P&P.
To order e-mail: history@kayliv.co.uk
Menai Strait Regattas 2011
Click Picture to go to website
Menai Strait Regattas 2011
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RMYC Mylne Fleet
King of Norway views the RMYC Mylne fleet
in their 75th Anniversary year
The Royal Mersey Yacht Club played host to His Majesty King Harald V of Norway after the king accepted honorary life membership. His Majesty was escorted around the club, where he was welcomed by Commodore David Massey and the Flag Officers of the club.
The club commodore David Massey said: “We are delighted to welcome such an accomplished and passionate sailor as His Majesty to the club. The King is a well-known sailor and represented his country sailing in the Olympic team three times. He has also won gold, silver and bronze in the European Championships.
Wirral’s chief executive Steve Maddox and the Mayor Cllr Andrew Hodson joined the club members and His Majesty for lunch in the club and to view the Mylne on their moorings and on display in the club yard. They presented the King with a book highlighting Wirral’s links with Norway by local author Stephen Harding.
Menai Strait Regattas 2010
Celibrate their 180th anniversary
Commodore Littledale RMYC in the yacht "Queen of the Ocean" yacht after returning from racing in the Menai Strait Regattas
goes to the rescue of the Emigrant ship "Ocean Monach" in Abergeley bay on the 24th August 1884.
Menai Strait Regattas 2010
Send in your your photos to celebriate the 180th anniversary
The photo on the left is sent in by Tony Gerrard of number 6 Ikinoo RMYC Restriced Class taken
circa1923 off Beaumaris - Jack Gerard is in the white sweater and the photo on the right is sent in by
Chris Kay of the Mylnes in Victoria Dock in 1962 - send your photos to Ian Diamond at email address webmaster@menaistraitregattas.org.uk
Menai Strait Regattas 2010
Time to Enter- NOW!!!! good weather guaranteed !!!
Entry forms for this year's Regatta are now available on the entry page
Early entry does assist us in the planning and preparation of the event.
Please enter ASAP, and encourage members of your club and class, to enter.
PLEASE
NOTE ENTRY FEE: NO PRICE INCREASE THIS YEAR
and once again we are offering half price car parking at Beaumaris!!!
Please pay for Car Park Pass with entry fee
- Saturday 24th July Round Anglesey Race starting and finishing at Menai Bridge. Please return all trophies as early as possible to the Regatta Office. Especially those for next day's RAYC Regatta
- Sunday 25th July Regatta starts from Beaumaris with RAYC
- Wednesday 28th July Race through from Beaumaris to Caernarfon. A coach will be available for return to Beaumaris. Please book your places on the notice board in RAYC
- Royal Welsh YC and Caernarfon SC will be using GROUP STARTS for both regattas see 6.1 & 7.2 in Sailing Instructions.
- Dinghies at Caernarfon. No more dragging your boat over the foreshore, we have been allowed access to Menai Marine Victoria slipway. You can rig your boat and the bridge will be lifted for access to the marina!!!
- Saturday 31st July Coach available from Beaumaris to Caernarfon. HW 13.46 suggesting the Lock Gates will be open approx 10.00 allowing plenty of time to sail to Port Dinorwic
- Port Dinorwic Tides should allow us to race at PD and then return to Beaumaris LW slack 1915
- Sunday 1st August 11am Church Service for all sailors and their families.
- B-B-Q and Tug-of-war against the Beaumaris Lifeboat on Sunday afternoon at RAYC all welcome. Further information nearer the time.
- Monday 2nd August racing starts again hosted by Menai Bridge. First week and Menai Bridge BC prize giving held 1800 hrs at Hotel Victoria Menai Bridge
- Friday 6th August Final night party and prize giving. Following the success of last year we intend to hold another event with some new attractions. (Watch the RAYC notice board). Many Clubs such as Royal Dee, Royal Mersey and Fife, Star and Hilbre classes also hold parties and events throughout the fortnight.
- Sailing Briefings will be held on Saturday 24th July and Sunday1st August in the RAYC at 6pm, a Safety briefing will be held 5pm Saturday 24th July for our safety crew.
- Volunteers are needed to help on the respective lines, completing the result cards etc, please put their names forward?
- Moorings. If your class may require them, they should be booked early via Dave Challinor Regatta Secretary or on your Entry Form!!
- Protests. We have a new Protest Chairman David Taylor. We are again using the RYA Best Practice Rules Dispute Arbitration as an alternative. Full details will be on the notice board in RAYC.
- 2011 Regatta Your committee sent out a questionnaire seeking the views of all competitors and clubs who attend The Straits, following that review we have decided to hold the regatta from Saturday 30th July to Saturday 13th August 2011. First race Monday 1st August 2011.
- Weather forecast available from Mesoscale via Regatta web page link
Beaumaris Chamber of Trade and Tourism will be promoting the event during the Regatta.
We look forward to your company again. It's a great place
to meet and renew friendships.
Entries please to Chris Kay, 19 Hall Road East, Blundellsands, Liverpool,
L23 8TT
0151 924 4148 e-mail: mail@kayliv.co.uk
Regatta Chairman Richard A Booth 0151 677 1264 e-mail: Chairman@Menaistraitregattas.org.uk
Regatta Secretary Dave Challinor 01248 851197 e-mail: davechallinor3@btinternet.com
RMYC Mylne Fleet
Celibrate their 75th anniversary
RMYC Mylne fleet racing in the Menai Strait Regattas in 1936
Menai Strait Regattas 2009
Photos of the 2009 Conway Yacht Club Regatta and Prizegiving - Provided by Peter & Wendy Jones
Photos of 2009 Menai Strait Regattas - Provided by Peter & Wendy Jones
Why not send in your Regatta photos ?
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Royal Anglesey
Yacht Club
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Royal Anglesey Yacht Club are to hold an Open Regatta
immediately following the Menai Strait Regattas. All boats remaining
at Beaumaris on Saturday 22 August, and other boats in the Straits,
will be very welcome.
It is proposed to use the normal regatta start sequence, perhaps combining some classes, depending on the number of entrants. Details will be published during the Menai Straits Regattas, with entry forms. There will be no entry fee for this regatta. The racing will take place around high water, giving scope for interesting courses. |
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Menai Strait Regattas - Chairman's letter
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Dear Friends, We normally drop you a line at this time of year to wish you a merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year. This is my first opportunity to contact you as the new Chairman of the Menai Strait Regatta Committee. I must go on record to thank Mike and Trish Butterfield for all their hard work over the past years; Mike has been appointed our President so we will not lose his expertise. We have also appointed a new Regatta Secretary David Challinor from Red Wharf Bay SC; we welcome him to the team. When you think of 2009, I hope you will again include The Menai Strait Regatta in your plans. The web pages have been updated to give you the dates and the provisional start times to assist in your planning. This year you will have noticed that the racing starts on Sunday and finishes on the Friday of the second week, prize giving will now be held on the last Friday evening giving you the opportunity to attend. Those of you who had checked into your accommodation on the Friday and did not otherwise race till Monday had requested this. I am looking into whether we can this year have some additional open social events, one in the centre and possibly one at the end of the fortnight. Any ideas (and offers of help) can be passed to me directly or via your club or class representatives. I look forward to us all gathering again, it will soon be August!! |
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The Family Regatta Richard A Booth (Chairman) 15 Frankby Close, Greasby, Wirral CH49 3PT
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Menai Strait Regattas - Combined Clubs
The Menai Strait Combined Regattas Committee has elected Richard Booth as the
new Regattas Chairman. Richard brings a wealth of Regatta experience to the
roll and we wish him every success in his new role
Royal Anglesey
Yacht Club
The Menai Strait One Design Class has now launched its own website.
Please visit the website at www.msod.org.uk
Menai Strait Regattas - 2010 Regattas
The Menai Strait Combined Regattas Committee has set the preliminary dates for the 2010 Regattas.
See webpages for regatta dates for further details
Royal Mersey Yacht Club
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A splendid RMYC 51st Beaumaris Regatta by Geoff Topp A most successful 51st RMYC Regatta was held at Beaumaris in the Menai Strait Regattas series on Thursday 14th August 2008. With a strong breeze from the South and in gloriously fine weather a worthy assortment of Classes lined up off Beaumaris. The Classes included Falcons, Stars, Hilbres, MSOD's, Mylnes, Squibs, Fifes, Dinghies and Toppers. Everybody had a testing but enjoyable sail which provided a grand sight for all the onlookers. |
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Please visit the club website www.royalmersey.co.uk/gallery/ for more gallery pictures of the day |
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West Kirby Sailing Club
Hilbre class - 50th Anniversary
| "More a small yacht than a large dinghy" is how the yachting press described the design of the Hilbre when it was featured in the early 1960s. As can be seen from the photos she is a very pretty and proper looking boat. She also provides exciting class racing in a fleet of around 20 at WKSC. |
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55 were originally built to a design of Alan Buchannan. They are wooden clinker built, 19'.9" overall, drawing 1' 7" with the plate up and 4' 5" with it lowered through the 500lb keel. This construction enables them to dry out safely on their moorings in the open waters of the river Dee. They carry a modern sail plan including overlapping Genoa, No1 jib and spinnaker. This sail plan together with the tolerances permitted within their one design rules allows owners to fine tune the rig to achieve good racing performance. Currently there are two official sail makers, North Sails and Speed Sails and their modern sails plus the controls allowed in the class again lend themselves to enjoyable racing and sailing. The Hilbre design also suits the boat for family day sailing and they have been sailed to and from the Menai Straits many times. Whilst they can be sailed by two people or even single-handed class rules stipulate a minimum crew of three including the helm and a fourth is useful in a blow. Being wooden they require winter maintenance which is usually done in company with other owners in the boat sheds at WKSC where you will also find people with the time and expertise to advise or help with larger repairs or modifications. There is a full programme of class racing at West Kirby including team and match racing and the class also enjoys it's own starts at all the local Wirral regattas and at the Menai Strait Regattas fortnight in Anglesey during the beginning of August. The Hilbre class association endeavors to keep boats sailing locally and currently owns 3 boats which are all in a good state of repair. These are available for sale or possible lease to sailors who want to sail and race on the Dee. Contact the class president Paul Churchill at WKSC who will also be happy to arrange for anyone interested to get out and crew or helm a Hilbre.
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Hilbre Contacts
Class Captain : Gareth
Wright
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Royal Mersey Yacht Club
A Royal visit
by Trevor Tansey
| The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron of Royal Mersey Yacht Club
visited the Club on 22nd May, to meet Officers, members of the racing
fleets and view the one design yachts sailed at the Club.
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Sally Collings won the overall Mylne Class event in the yacht "Mersey" with Richard Olsen & Trevor Tansey taking the International Etchells Class first prize in "Invader". For further information on the Royal Mersey Yacht Club, the fleets and the 2008 Sailing Programme visit the club website at www.royalmersey.co.uk |
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Royal Anglesey Yacht Club
Menai Strait One Design 1937 - 2007
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The Menai Strait One Design Sloop was specially designed for the Strait waters by Mr. W.H. Rowland M.I.M.E. of Deganwy, for the builders Morris & Leavett of Gallows Point, Beaumaris, who had received orders for a 20ft sloop with a lifting centre plate which could be sailed at any state of the tide. |
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In August 1938 the owners decided to form their own club which would exclude paid hands (professional helmsmen) which was the format of other local clubs. One guinea subscription fee was collected from the owners and five shillings from associates. |
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The CLUB was registered with the R.Y.A. in November 1938. Two more M.SOD’s were built in 1939, when the club decided that the letters ‘MS’ be put on the mainsail, to help identification. (This was why they were called the Marks & Spencers boat). Between the years of 1945 and 1952 the class was brought up to seventeen in number. All but one are back in the North Wales area, being refurbished by new enthusiastic owners, who are restoring them to the original specifications. Class racing takes place most weekends during the RAYC season and the Menai Straits fortnight. |
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West Kirby Sailing Club
Star Centenary 1906 - 2006
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These 'little ships' were designed by George Cockshott in 1906 for the West Lancashire Yacht Club, as a 'Suitable craft for the young and inexperienced sailor' The original boats were built by Lathoms of Hesketh Bank at a cost of £32 each. |
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They raced successfully at Southport until 1920 when the fleet was sold to WKSC as a nucleus for a club class. They have remained here ever since. Two of the original boats are still racing and with additions - and sadly losses, over the years, the class now numbers 13. Nine 'are on the water', two are nearing completion of major rebuilding, and one unfortunately is in the Merseyside Maritime Museum. Their clinker contructions, red sails and seaworthy qualities make them ideal for the conditions in the Dee Estuary. They are probably the most photogenic boats in the North West and North Wales where they visit most of the Regattas. |
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During the winter they are repainted and refurbished in the boatshed where everyone helps with labour,advice and expert knowledge in order to return them all to pristine condition for the new season. They are very comfortable family boats for day sailing and although they can be sailed single handed, three is the normal racing crew.
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Class racing takes place most weekends during the season and the class supports the Wirral Regattas and the Menai Straits fortnight. Here many of the classes enjoy camping together as well as racing competitively.
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The current class president is Ian Eccles Tel: 0151 342 1205 The class captain is Alister Sclater Tel: 0151 625 7774 Website: West Kirby Sailing Club |
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