Seventy-five years of stadium racing

Well before team racing events filled the USA calendar from coast to coast, the focus of the world was on the West Kirby Sailing Club and its annual Wilson Trophy competition. And to paraphrase Frank Sinatra in the song New York, New York, if you can make it there, you “gonna make it anywhere.”

The 75th anniversary of the Wilson Trophy will be held May 3-5 on the club’s marine stadium along the west coast of England. What began in 1948 has remained in the Firefly One Design, and now amid race commentary and spectator grandstands, the 2024 edition has attracted 34 teams from UK and Ireland along with five teams from the USA.

The USA has had the upper hand of late, winning the past three events, either by the East Coast Drifters (Roger Williams University) or Eastern Yacht Club. These teams are returning and joined by USA squads from New York Yacht Club, New Port Harbour Yacht Club, and Seneca Yacht Club. – https://wilsontrophy.co.uk/