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The aims of the Old Gaffers Association are to preserve interest in and encourage development
of Gaff Rig, and to participate in the maintenance of our Maritime Heritage. Membership of the Association
is open to all who are interested in sailing, building; restoring or simply admiring gaff rigged and
other traditionally rigged craft. There is no requirement for members to be boat owners.
Many
members' boats are veterans; some of considerable historical importance, but boats of any age or material
with traditional hull form and carrying gaff or other traditional rig are most welcome at OGA events.
The OGA organises races; rallies and other events for gaff rigged vessels as our principal means
of encouraging an active interest and a facility for members to meet like-minded people. It is largely
due to the enthusiasm of OGA members taking part in these Association activities, and the publicity that
they attract, that gaff rig has made such a revival since the 1960s.
The first Old Gaffers race
was held in the Solent in 1958 with only three boats, and has since been held annually with ever increasing
numbers. As a result a similar race was held on the East Coast in 1963. Such was the success of this
event that the committees of the two races joined together later in the year at the Little Ship Club
at Maldon to form the OGA.
There are now separate area committees organising events in various
parts of the British Isles. The OGA also has branches in France, Australia, and Germany and we maintain
friendly links with traditional sail organisations throughout Europe and Scandinavia who are all now
running similar events. Membership of the OGA is open to anyone regardless of nationality. Our burgee
of white gaff jaws (known as the pitchfork!) on a blue ground is a familiar sight and recognised everywhere.
The lead given by the OGA encouraged designers to create new gaff rigged yachts, many of which are
built in modern materials and it is an essence of the Association that, though 'old' is in the title,
its sole concern is with the preservation of boats, in whatever material, with gaff or lug rig. It is
the particular success of the Association that its presence has ensured the preservation of many fine
yachts and working boats and also the building of new ones, specifically created to use the full virtues
of gaff sail.
The increased interest in our maritime heritage is matched by a desire to recreate
the virtues of that heritage and round our coasts can be found boats being built in wood, GRP, ferro-cement,
steel and aluminium together with that four-sided sail and all are very welcome in the Association. Whether
we be the restorer of a Victorian classic or buyer of a new 'plastic' gaffer, we have set ourselves apart
as firm believers in the virtues of gaff rig and seamanship and are proud to be preserving or recreating
the traditional virtues of sailing as it was.
Unlike most other sailing clubs, the Association
has no headquarters but is kept together by a central committee, while individual geographical areas
organise their races and events. From the days when each could only manage one event, the bigger areas
now organise six or seven each year. These events serve as a focal point for members to exchange information
and to help each other with the particular problems of maintaining the older boats. They also provide
people with the pleasure of seeing the newest production gaffer to become available, or to see the creation
of friends who have just finished their new ferro-cement gaff rigged home.
Such is the support
of the Association's events that there are many prizes and trophies to be hotly contested, the winners
often showing speed that would give the modernist, wedded to his triangular sail, serious food for thought.
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