Entry is open for this year's WLYC 24 Hour Race!
This year’s WLYC 24 Hour Race is on the weekend of 12-14 September 2025
The race is a collaboration of sailing clubs from across the UK, hosted by West Lancs on the shallow waters of the beautiful Marine Lake in the centre of Southport. Entry is now open via the GP14 Association online shop – click here to enter:
https://www.gp14.org/shop/west…
Southport SC will host the SSC National Junior 12 Hour Race on Saturday 28th June, also on the Marine Lake, with entry now open via their website.
Book now for the Annual Dinner!
7.00 for 7.30pm Saturday 15th February £38pp
An evening celebrating the sailing year and our long association with the Kindred Clubs
Black Tie banquet dinner by Totally D’Vine followed by the Flying Snooker knock out competition
Carriages at midnight
Please book in the Club by 8th February indicating numbers and menu choices
or email: the.commodore.wlyc@gmail.com or text/phone Richard Westlake on : 07739 4790840
Payment in advance via bank transfer to: “West Lancashire Yacht Club”
Sort Code 09-01-29 | Account No 20974864 | Ref: AD + surname
Enjoy Burns Night at the Club on Saturday 25th January
Join us for another memorable evening at WLYC!
A traditional "Burns Night celebration with a fine feast (Haggis or Salmon Option) & a wee dram all followed by an evening of entertainment and Ceilidh dancing. The Gallimaufry Ceilidh Band will lead us from the Gay Gordons; Dashing White Sergeant; Strip The Willow through the Eightsome Reel and more. 6.30pm for 7.00 start. Smart or Formal Dress. £35.00 per head.
To book please email chrissypops@gmail.com or call 07788 370257
Club Boats
Enjoy sailing as soon as you join by hiring the Club boats
Our growing fleet of Club Optimists, Toppers, Quests and Fevas is available to hire at nominal members rates for those who have completed their Level 2 training.
WLYC is open to all and we want to make sailing more accessible for everyone. Become a member for an annual fee which works out at less than £20 for an adult and less than £5 for a junior. Enjoy sailing as soon as you join by hiring the Club boats. Fellow club members are willing to help rigging or putting the boat away so that it is ready for the next use. There is often an opportunity to crew for another member.
Boat Hire
Join us on the water and sail all day for a tenner!
Six RS Quests – three RS Fevas – three RS Zests – eight Toppers – six Optimists – two Mirrors
Members can hire a club boat at just £10 for the day. With around 30 Club boats available for hire and training, you can always get out on the water at minimal cost. Members can hire a club dinghy at any time if they have completed RYA level 2 training. Just fill in the club boat hire envelope by the bar, insert ten pounds and hand it to the person behind the bar or slip it under the door. It could not be easier!
Adult Training
There are experienced members to help you and Club boats to hire for a nominal charge
WLYC is an RYA Training Centre and adults learn to sail through the courses designed by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA).
Start Sailing and Basic Skills (RYA Levels 1 & 2) are designed to provide a basic understanding of how to rig a dinghy, launch, and use the wind to sail a triangle. Better Sailing (Level 3) will improve your skills and Seamanship Skills and Start Racing are also available as well as Powerboat and First Aid courses.
Once you have the basic skills, you can consolidate the learning by practising regularly, spending time on the water, sailing socially or racing.
Junior Training
Junior training is open to young members aged 8 and over. We run sessions on Saturdays from April to October and through the winter months for keen sailors.
We have ample fleets of Club Optimists, Toppers, Fevas, Zests and Quests; these are available during the classes and subsequently to hire at members’ rates.
RYA instructors deliver training in a fun way. The children work through the RYA basic courses at their own pace and move on into competitive racing on Saturday afternoons and Thursday evenings when they are ready.
Free sessions are also offered to non-members who want to try sailing.
Club Racing
Racing and race training for juniors and adults, novices, veterans and champions
WLYC has long been a nursery for talented sailors, many of whom have gone on to compete nationally and internationally.
Club racing is every Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon from the end of March to the end of October. We have fleets of Enterprises, GP 14s and Streakers as well as the Handicap fleet for other dinghy classes. New members can hire a Club boat to race and novice racers are welcome.
You don’t have to be a medal winner to take part, but you should not be surprised to find one next to you at the start.
Offshore Sailing
WLYC encourages club members who want to sail offshore, keeping the ‘Yacht’ in West Lancashire Yacht Club
We’ve organised offshore cruises in the UK, cross Channel as well as in the Mediterranean or even further afield such as the Caribbean or the Far East.
Experienced offshore skippers and crews pass on their skills to the less experienced people onboard. We can also put together shore based theory courses and advise where to consider for practical courses.
Club members sailed together in the Solent, off the west coast of Scotland and in the Med last year.
Radio Controlled Sailing
Experienced RC sailors are happy to show you the thrills and spills of RC racing
There’s a section of the Club dedicated to sailing Radio-Controlled (RC) boats on Tuesdays and Sundays.
No previous experience is necessary, although many former dinghy sailors enjoy practising their race tactics and skills through the radio controlled medium.
The Marine Lake is an ideal venue for radio controlled sailing and attracts visiting enthusiasts for national events.
Social Sailing
The Club is open to members 7 days a week
The Club supports social sailing and collaboration to develop sailing skills and knowledge. It is always safer to sail when there are other people around.
New members without a boat will find someone happy to take them out for a recreational sail and those with an RYA Level 2 qualification can hire a Club boat. Its a chance to gain time on the water and practise skills, and there’s help with rigging and returning safely to shore.
On Wednesdays throughout the year we’ll make a day of it with picnic lunches and Saturday is family day.
Social Calendar
Members join for the sailing and stay for the social scene
Club social events include quiz nights, weekday lunches, sailing suppers, summer barbecues as well as the annual dinner and prizegiving evening.
Club night is Thursdays so, even if we are not racing, members come down to watch or have a game of snooker and enjoy a drink with fellow members at the reasonably priced bar.
The bar is also open on Saturday afternoons when toasties and excellent cakes are available from the galley.
Volunteering
You can volunteer to support the Club
Our Club is a members’ club run by its members for the members. An established volunteering ethos makes the Club work well and a fun place to be. There’s a strong sense of belonging to a friendly community.
So why not get involved in helping to organize our sailing and social activities? Get out of the house and spend time with friends, on or off the water, helping to run the Club.
Members contribute some of their time, skills and professional experience. There’s always plenty to do, running the races, maintaining the facilities or helping out in the bar or galley. The idea is to have fun doing what we enjoy and working in a team.
Venue Hire
Celebrate at West Lancashire Yacht Club
Celebrate your special occasion! The Yacht Club has a stunning lakeside location, magnificent views, a light and airy lounge, parquet dance floor, traditional feature bar and ample free parking.
Contact us to book your birthdays, weddings, christenings, funerals, fund-raisers and get togethers.
