Dinghy Cruising Association
  • Home
  • About
    • Origins
    • News
    • Contact us
  • Cruising
    • Getting started >
      • FAQs
    • Living aboard
    • Taking the family
    • Safety
  • Dinghies
    • John Welsford talks about designing boats
    • Michael Storer talks about becoming a boat designer
    • Boat reviews
    • Technical Articles
    • Roamer and Rebell
    • YM Designs
  • Rallies
    • Calendar
    • Rallies in England >
      • South Coast
      • North West
      • North East
      • South West
      • East Coast
    • Rallies in Scotland
    • Rallies in Wales
    • Rallies in Ireland
    • Rallies in North America
    • Rallies in France
    • Rallies in the Netherlands
    • Rallies in Scandinavia
  • Journal
    • Archive >
      • Back Copies
    • Digital Subscribers >
      • 2022 Journals
  • DCA Library
    • Good Reads
    • Book Reviews
  • Join the DCA
  • Members Section
    • Renew/Update
    • Forum
    • DCA Shop
    • Membership Lists >
      • The Lists
    • Photo Competition
    • DCA Awards

DCA Rallies

Rallies

​Rallies are held across the UK and overseas.  They range from day sails and short camp cruises in sheltered waters, to coastal expeditions over a couple of weeks. They are always an occasion for socialising, making new friends, comparing notes and boats and lots of picnics! You can sail in company or you can sail alone - the DCA does not over organise; join in as much or as little as you wish. At some rallies people all launch from the same place; at others they launch at different locations and meet up at a designated spot.

Coronavirus caused the cancellation of  all rallies in 2020 but fortunately did not curtail the programme in 2021. So provided there are no lockdown or travel restrictions,  rallies will go ahead as planned in 2022. It is important, however, that members remain mindful of their own safety in terms of social distancing. 
Picture
Lunch break at Loch Lomond
The DCA does not run a safety boat. Dinghy cruising on exposed tidal waters is for experienced sailors only. Individual sailors must decide whether they and their boat can handle the expected conditions. Always check marine weather forecasts and local conditions before you sail, and remember there is no shame in deciding not to sail if you think conditions are more than you or your boat can manage.​
 All members are welcome at rallies, with or without their own boat. Depending on the location, members cruise not just in sailing dinghies but also in rowing boats, kayaks and canoes, and there are often opportunities to  crew for others. Newcomers should always contact the organiser of the rally in advance, to make themselves known  especially if looking for crewing opportunities.

Rally programmes are agreed among members  early in the year at meetings or  through discussion on the Forum or by email.    The finalised programmes are always included in the Dinghy Cruising journal sent to all members and are posted in the   Forum  as well as here on the website on the following rally pages.  It is important to remember that these are always subject to changes and members planning to attend a rally are advised to check with the person hosting the rally or look for updates on the Forum. 
Members have organised themselves into the following groups to facilitate the planning process:
  1. England:     South Coast;   South West;   East;   North East;   North West -    including North Wales
  2. South Wales
  3. North of Scotland
  4. South of Scotland
  5. Ireland - including Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
  6. France
  7. Netherlands
  8. North America - including Canada and the USA
​Discussions are ongoing in Scandinavia about the possibility of organising a rally there.
​Most groups have a volunteer Regional Secretary to coordinate discussions.

Pop up Rallies

If any member of the DCA is planning to go sailing and thinks it would be good to have company, they are welcome to make a post   on the Forum giving details of when and where they plan to launch, what the proposed route and duration would be and how they can be contacted by anyone interested to join them.  This can be accompanied by a post on the Facebook page with a note saying, for example, 'Pop up rally this weekend in the North West region' - for further information please login to the DCA Forum.

Non DCA raids and festivals that may be of interest:

UK
  • The English Raid
  • ​​Sail Caledonia
  • Scottish Traditional Boat Festival: Port Soy
  • Seafair Haven
Europe
  • La Semaine Du Golfe
  • Dorestad Raid​
Picture


​Wojtek Baginski shares his photos from some overseas raids that were attended by DCA members:
  • Raid Finland   One    and   Two  and
  • Raid Poland   One  and   Two.
Join the DCA

The friendly club with a sense of adventure. For sailors and families who use boats for more than just racing.

DCA Forum

DCA Facebook Group​
 ​
Contact us
​​
Picture

​© 2010-2022 DCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • About
    • Origins
    • News
    • Contact us
  • Cruising
    • Getting started >
      • FAQs
    • Living aboard
    • Taking the family
    • Safety
  • Dinghies
    • John Welsford talks about designing boats
    • Michael Storer talks about becoming a boat designer
    • Boat reviews
    • Technical Articles
    • Roamer and Rebell
    • YM Designs
  • Rallies
    • Calendar
    • Rallies in England >
      • South Coast
      • North West
      • North East
      • South West
      • East Coast
    • Rallies in Scotland
    • Rallies in Wales
    • Rallies in Ireland
    • Rallies in North America
    • Rallies in France
    • Rallies in the Netherlands
    • Rallies in Scandinavia
  • Journal
    • Archive >
      • Back Copies
    • Digital Subscribers >
      • 2022 Journals
  • DCA Library
    • Good Reads
    • Book Reviews
  • Join the DCA
  • Members Section
    • Renew/Update
    • Forum
    • DCA Shop
    • Membership Lists >
      • The Lists
    • Photo Competition
    • DCA Awards