By Richard Westlake
Families can enjoy the spectacle of watching the West Lancashire Yacht Club 24 Hour Race in Southport this weekend – dinghy sailing’s premier endurance race.
Under the umbrella of West Lancashire Yacht Club (WLYC), this much-loved event will mark the 53rd edition of the race on the picturesque Marine Lake in Southport.
The race will start at 12 noon this Saturday, 21st September 2024, and finish at 12 noon on Sunday, 22nd September 2024, with a colourful 24 hours of non-stop sailing excitement on display.
With the pandemic now behind us, we’re thrilled to bring back the WLYC 24 Hour Race. This event has always been a major highlight in the UK’s dinghy sailing calendar, not just for the sailors, but for our local community as well.
Sailing is a fantastic sport that offers physical, mental, and social wellbeing benefits, and this race demonstrates the spirit of teamwork and resilience that we all depend on in sport and in life…
…because the essence of the WLYC 24 Hour Race is not only challenge and endurance, but also the teamwork, on and off the water.
The return of this iconic race has evolved into a wide-ranging collaboration between the participating clubs, the GP14 and Enterprise associations, the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), and Marine Supplies Direct, which is sponsoring the event.
Boats from West Lancashire Yacht Club enjoy the Marine Lake in Southport. Photo by Bertie Cunningham Southport BID
WLYC has updated some aspects of the event, with entry, registration, volunteering and parking reservations now handled online.
The party on Friday night featuring the HOBOT rock band and DJ Enterprise will add to the excitement that the visiting clubs have come to love.
Originally launched in 1967, the WLYC 24 Hour Race has been a key fixture in the UK dinghy sailing calendar ever since.
After a five year break, the club is excited to bring the race back, maintaining the spirit and tradition that has long made it one of the most cherished events in the sailing year.
Boats from West Lancashire Yacht Club enjoy the Marine Lake in Southport. Photo by Bertie Cunningham Southport BID
The format remains a 24-hour, non-stop team race, testing skill, strategy, and endurance, while offering spectators the chance to witness a unique and thrilling challenge unfold.
The multiple ‘races within the race’ sustain the excitement throughout.
We’re looking forward to welcoming the competing teams back to Southport.
Find out more at wlyc.org.uk/wlyc-24-hour-race
* Editor’s note: It was thought the 2019 race was the 53rd edition, but it was in fact the 52nd, as the race was cancelled for a year during the fuel protests in 2000.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: [email protected]
