LOCAL sailors were eclipsed in the British Open Team Racing Championship for the Wilson Trophy staged by West Kirby Sailing Club in Firefly dinghies on the Marine Lake at the weekend, writes Andrew Stratton.

Overall victory went to former world champions Spinnaker, from Ringwood, who accounted for the American team Wishbone from Boston, two races to nil in the final.

Spinnaker did include West Kirby member Angus Armstrong as crew. Roger Morris, Gregg Eaton and Stuart Hudson were the winning helms.

In the semi-finals Wishbone proved too strong for another American team New Yacht Club while Spinnaker accounted for Friends of Alice Lisle.

Hilbre Highlanders, comprising former members of the West Kirby first team, did best of the locals, losing to Wishbone in the quarter-finals. The new West Kirby first team did not qualify for the knock-outs.

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