WEST Kirby Sailing Club will be hosting the 75th anniversary of the Wilson Trophy this weekend.
The Wilson Trophy is held annually in May on West Kirby Marine Lake and sees 34 teams take part in the Firefly dinghy race.
This year’s race will see 204 sailors enter the competition from UK, USA and Ireland.
There will be more than 300 races taking place over the three-day event.
Races last typically eight-10 minutes round a short course in colour coordinated boats with three boats on each team, manoeuvring to get their team into a winning combination of 10 points or less.
To win you need to excel at boat speed, boat handling, starting, tactics, rules and teamwork.
The event also adopts the ‘Swiss League’ format for the first stage of the competition, which pitches teams on equal or similar number of wins against each other to ensure the best racing for everyone.
On Sunday, May 5 the top eight advance to the quarter finals.
Races are umpired on the water with boats penalised during the race
Adam Whittle, commodore, said: “The ‘theatre of dreams’ that is West Kirby Marine Lake will play host to a spectacle of the best racing you will ever see.
“With over 300 races being run over a three-day event, the Wilson Trophy is revered for its fierce racing, famous socials, live commentary and breath-taking skill which all make for one unforgettable event.
“With an established track record for delivery, West Kirby Sailing Club produces an illustrious championship enjoyed by competitors and spectators from around the world, and our local community and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the event.”
The 34 teams (and three reserve teams) who have gained entry to the 75th Anniversary Wilson Trophy:
TEAM NAME ASSOCIATED CLUB
Cambridge Blue Cambridge University Cruising Club
Cindies Sailing Club Oxford Sailing Club
Corinthian Tigers Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
Cumberland Sausages RTYC/Lymington River Scow Class Assoc.
Curious George Royal St George Yacht Club (IRE)
East Coast Drifters Roger Williams University (USA)
Eastern Yacht Club Eastern Yacht Club (USA)
Edinburgh University Sailing Club Edinburgh University Sailing Club
Elmside Neighbours Hayling Island Sailing Club
George Jesters Royal St George Yacht Club (IRE)
Loughborough Purple Loughborough University
Northern Nomads WKSC & TAYC
Nottingham Outlaws University of Nottingham
NYYC New York Yacht Club (USA)
OCSS Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society
Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society
Paddington Bears WKSC/RTYC/Parkstone YC
RLYC Foxes Royal London Yacht Club
Rock City Cruising Club New Port Harbour Yacht Club (USA)
Royal Forth Hoosiers Royal Forth Yacht Club
Royal Hospital School Royal Hospital School
RSGYC Youth Royal St George Yacht Club (IRE)
RTYC Blue Royal Thames Yacht Club
RTYC White Royal Thames Yacht Club
Rutland Raiders Rutland Sailing Club
Seneca Yacht Club Seneca Yacht Club (USA)
The SMVC Southampton
The SMVC Greatest Hits Southampton
Sparsholt Sailing Club Manchester University/Oxford Alumni
Wessex Exempt Wessex Exempt Sailing Club
Wessex Walking Stick NFA
Wessex Wombles Southampton University
West Kirby Hawks West Kirby Sailing Club
WKSC West Kirby Sailing Club
Reserve team list
TEAM NAME ASSOCIATED CLUB
Soop Dragons Treaddur Bay Sailing Club
Tartan Titans East Lothian Yacht Club
Cambridge Purple Cambridge University Cruising Club
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