Southport's Iconic WLYC 24 Hour Race returns this weekend

53rd West Lancashire Yacht Club 24 Hour Race © Roy Kissick

The WLYC 24 Hour Race - dinghy sailing's premier endurance race - is back! Under the burgee of West Lancashire Yacht Club (WLYC), this much-loved event will be returning this weekend, marking the 53rd edition of the race on the picturesque Marine Lake in Southport.

The race will start at 12 noon on Saturday, September 21st, and finish at 12 noon on Sunday, September 22nd, 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, who are sponsoring the event. 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. 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.