West Kirby inspired New York Yacht Club
A former commodore of New York Yacht Club and son of the donor of the Hinman Trophy (America’s Wilson Trophy) heaped praise on West Kirby Sailing Club in general and the Wilson Trophy in particular as an inspiration to that revered institution.
Speaking at a corporate hospitality lunch during the opening day of the Diamond Jubilee of the renowned international sailing event in West Kirby, George Hinman related the feelings of the members of the yacht club in the aftermath of losing the America’s Cup in 1983 after holding it against all challengers for 131 years.
He described how he and his fellow members realised that it wasn’t just a blip on the smooth running of history’s marathon, it was quite literally the end of an era and the club had to examine all aspects of what it was about.
As the club itself was in the middle of New York and obviously well away from any water a suitable satellite base was the first priority and premises were bought in Newport, Rhode Island.
It was how that new water-side facility was to be used that the West Kirby influence was drawn on. Several of the younger members (with whom, it was realised, the future lay) were telling of the sailing and competition they enjoyed in an event called the Wilson Trophy at this hive of activity in the UK called West Kirby Sailing Club. Here youngsters were encouraged and coached and seen as the future in which to invest. The New York committee investigated in detail and then set up their new enterprise in line with the ethos at West Kirby.
Little did we know . . .