West Lancashire Yacht Club
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The West Lancashire Yacht Club (WLYC) was founded in 1894. In 1999 WLYC was awarded the status of Volvo/RYA Champion Club, which is an award recognising the standard of training and performance of its members in sailing competitions and the club has helped teach some top sailors.
History
In 1898 the club accepted a new One Design Class boat, not to cost more than £35 complete. The Seabird Half Rater designed by Mr. Herbert Baggs and Mr. W. Scott Hayward. The first eight boats were built by Latham of Crossens at a cost of £34 17s 6d each. The boats were named after Seabirds and their ratings (competitive performance) were assessed at 0.5 hence the term Half Rater. The first race was sailed off the Southport Pierhead on 13 June 1899 when eight boats raced over a ten mile course and Goshawk No.2 won
In 1906 the Star class, designed by George Cockshott for the West Lancashire Yacht Club, and built by Lathoms of Hesketh Bank at a cost of £32 each. They raced successfully at Southport until 1920.
The 24 hour race has been run by WLYC since 1967 for Enterprise, GP 14 and initially Fireflys, but more recently Lark racing dingies. Also a Laser 12 hour race has run from 2007.
Activities
Southport Marine Lake is ideally suited for all-year-round sailing, and WLYC club racing is primarily on the Marine Lake on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings either on the Marine Lake or on the sea at Southport (or Ainsdale)[1]. In 2006, the club hosted the first GP14s National Championship, but it is internationally known for its 24 Hour Race. The race was named as the 4th best regatta in the world by Yachts and yachting magazine in its 50 regattas to do before you die. The 2006 race was the 40th yearly race. The club also runs the laser 12 hour race on the Southport marine lake
Facilities
The West Lancashire Yacht Club is located on Marine Drive in Southport, Merseyside, England. The clubhouse is suituated next to Southport Sailing Club. The club has a modern, centrally heated, building with hot showers, a galley serving hot food and a bar. The scoring tower won an architecture award in the 1960s.
