The
Dinghy
Cruising
Association
UK Launch Slip
Directory
UK Rallies
UK Rally Programme
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The rally programme is decided at regional level and there are presently
four regions - North-West Coast & Lakes, North-East Coast, East Coast
and South Coast. There is no Scottish region or Welsh region and the SW
Coast region is working to be more active with two rallies this year plus
the usual visit to Falmouth of the NW Region.
Rallies are usually very loosely organised. It was said to me once
that " the DCA is an organisation for dinghy sailing individuals who
don't want to be organised!" and I think this is true. It is not unusual
to go to a rally and not make contact with all of the people attending.
Boats are sailed or trailed to rallies from all points of the compass,
and if members are to recognise each other it is important to fly the
DCA burgee. After a while, one gets to know which pub, or beach barbeque
site is favoured. Many people like to do their own thing anyway.
We also encourage members to write up their experiences for the bulletin,
and all cruising logs are considered for the award of the 'Naylor Noggin',
a silver tankard presented to the association by Brian Naylor, one of
our earliest members and still in the DCA. It is awarded to the author
of the best cruising log of the year to appear in the bulletins - spring
to winter issues. Occasionally it is not awarded if it is considered there
are no worthy articles.
The qualities of what makes a 'good' log are, of course, a matter of opinion.
The president and officers of the association offer their opinions to
decide the winner and the most important points are that it should be
well written and demonstrate the 'flavour' of dinghy cruising. It need
not be a description of a long cruise but it should take place in a dinghy
and be reasonably adventurous as far as the author is concerned, as opposed
to actually adventurous a la Frank Dye.