The history of the event from a member's perspective
Celebrating the 60th event this year tells you that this event is well established. Since its creation all those years ago between some members of West Kirby and the Royal St George YC, each event has seen new members involve themselves in one of the many areas it takes to run it.
Originally competed for by sailing clubs, the event attracted teams from universities, schools, associations and the armed forces. Sailed first on the sea and later on the marine lake the event has attracted sailors from all over the world.
Completely run by volunteer members the event grew with standards and traditions that have set a bench mark in the world of team racing and sailing. This is solely because of the commitment of members to do their bit.
In the beginning and still today every single team is offered accommodation with members from West Kirby Sailing Club. The scale of this task is enormous and it is one part of the event that shows that West Kirby is hospitable to the nth degree. Relationships have grown and blossomed with new friends of the club. Today, sixty years on, we have contact with sailors who wish to return to watch or even compete in an event that continues to mean so much to so many who have experienced the hospitality of a professionally put together event.
Holding the title British Open Team Racing Championship is a great honour. The title is bestowed on the Wilson by the RYA because it is recognised as one of the best events in the sailing calendar. We're proud of that history and determined that it continues.
The key ingredients for the sailing side are equipment, people, water and wind. Two we can provide the other two we rely on elsewhere.
We sail Firefly dinghies at the Wilson. Fireflies were used in the 1948 Olympics as a single handed dinghy and when it became a two person boat it was adopted as a class at West Kirby. We have continued to use them to this day. During the early days members lent their boats for use in the event until a new group within the club raised funds to create a fleet used only for the Wilson. Because of the growing success and reputation of the event, West Kirby Sailing Club were asked to hold the first team racing world championship in 1995. This would be a new test for the club and members. As with the first Wilson fleet sponsorship was sought and a new fleet of 24 Porter Fireflies was bought. These boats would be owned by the sponsors and stored, maintained and used by WKSC for the Wilson.
The colour-coded Porter boats gave great service. After their first use at the 1995 world event ahey were used in all subsequent Wilsons including the 50th anniversary in 1999. 2008 brought new initiatives led by the club's team racing committee and supportive members. A new dream was built to replace the surviving Porter boats with a full fleet of Rondar Fireflies. All the original sponsors kindly donated the boats to WKSC and works began to make the boats saleable to up and coming Universities.
Wilson boats get more use in a Wilson weekend than the average boat does in a season. It is great testament to the members who maintained these boats to the ripe old age of 13, having been sailed by 434 teams and over 2600 competitors in that time. The last 2 remaining flights were sold to Newcastle and Leeds universities. Fund raising began and in early 2009 an order was placed for 12 new Rondar boats. Individuals, companies and members of WKSC, some of who have never sailed in the event, donated the money as Boat Sponsors.
Start and finish boats, rescue boats and umpire boats all form a major part of the infrastructure on the water. The chief starter has teams of members who change every couple of hours after completing stints on the start and finish boats. Each group is linked by radio with the race officer, and umpires to enusre a professional job, if not a little colourful effort, to the racing, all adding to the atmosphere.
The umpires, all recruited by the chief umpire and who all volunteer without receiving any travel expenses (as is the norm in the rest of sailing) come from all over the world to adjudicate the sailing. The RYA this year pledged their support here and are providing several RIBs. 26 Umpires are used making the Wilson the largest umpired event on the planet and held in the highest of regard by ISAF, sailing's world governing body.
Famous for commitment, enthusiasm and sense of humour the beach master’s team is hard at work well before the sailors arrive. They prepare, launch, fix and maintain all the dinghies and RIBs during the event. Famed also for their parties and coffee this group is and has been made up of some of the great characters of West Kirby.
Food is the greatest of all fuels. West Kirby Sailing Club has a group of ladies and gentlemen called the Galley Girls. Sorry to the Gentlemen. These ladies each year serve breakfast and lunch to all parties at the event. This year they will cook breakfast for 252 competitors, 26 umpires, over 200 members, and countless guests and, when that is done, prepare packed lunches for them all. This is no easy feat but every year it’s done and a great amount of preparation is required.
The flag officers and the volunteer teams run the Wilson Trophy to the standards of professionalism you would expect at any leading sports event anywhere in the world. Run by members from all classes and back grounds WKSC invites all to be part of it.