The East Coast Area is one of the founders of the OGA. The East Coast Old Gaffers met with their counterparts from the Solent at Maldon Little Ship Club on 23 September 1963 to form the Old Gaffers Association. Since then the area has grown considerably. It set up the southern part of its area as a separate identity, and formed the Medway and North Kent OGA Area. In the early 1990’s the East Coast forged a special link with the VKSJ (Dutch Classic Yacht Organisation) in the Netherlands, jointly staging the North Sea Classic Passage Race, and pooling their events with those in mainland Europe to help create a European competition to bring gaff and classic yachts from different countries together. More recently the East Coast has been instrumental in forming a Netherlands OGA, and currently is trying to form a new area in the Norfolk Broads and coastal area north of Ordfordness.

In the early 1980’s the East Coast Area began to expand from just running one race a year to a full programme of events. Some 30 plus days of OGA events are staged every season, and a full points series is run. Most of the events are however friendly and informal, all our rallies where racer and cruiser are welcomed alike. The area also awards major trophies for cruising exploits too, many of our number cruising to the Netherlands and Baltic.

Open boat sailing has featured considerably in the sailing programme over the years, there are several trophies on offer. The unique Swallows and Amazons event at Walton is one of the largest gatherings of traditional sailing dinghies and smacks’ boats in the OGA, attracting many with families and children. Appreciating that the association needs to attract young people into its ranks, it has formed an affiliation with the Royal Hospital School at Holbrook, which has catered for the offspring of those in the Royal and Merchant Navies for centuries.

The East Coast area has published its own local area newsletter “Eastcoaster” to cover its extensive programme for many years and also has its own website “Eastcoastclassics.co.uk” to keep its members informed.