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