© Old Gaffers Association March 2012 The Old Gaffers Association: Formed in 1963 to promote Gaff Rig THE Association for Gaff Rig and Traditional Boat Sailing

The Northern Ireland Old Gaffers Association was set up principally by Mr Alan Hidden in the late 80’s.  The association was mainly based around the various clubs and anchorages of Strangford Lough in Co Down.  The membership began to increase with the growing popularity of Gaff rig in and around the province, mating traditional sailing with a atmosphere of traditional Irish music, and good Irish craic. The original NIOGA event was a gathering at East Down Yacht club for the area race every summer and this continued with gathering success for several years.  The racing was never really the mainstay of the event, with the emphasis more on turning up in your craft and enjoying yourself.  In truth no-one would ever know who won until Alan Hidden would emerge from his racing office clutching an all important piece of paper detailing the horrendously complex handicapping system, but it was always received with good humour if not too seriously. The NIOGA moved up a gear with the inaugural Carrick Classic sail on the shores of Belfast Lough, an event which was a tremendous success and eventually transmogrified into Bangor Traditional Sail which has run for about the past ten years. The last Bangor Traditional Sail was in June of 2006,and the Belfast Lough regatta in 2007 returned to its original home for Carrick Classic Regatta within the historic walls of Carrickfergus harbour, County Antrim, overlooked by the impressive Norman Castle and in close proximity to Carrick marina.   This new event is, it is hoped to be the leading event on the NIOGA calendar, and will encompass our annual area race. However, the NIOGA is far from a one stop shop.  For the more easy going amongst our membership there is the ‘so relaxed it will fall over backwards one-day’ Ardglass Traditional Regatta.  A unique event in sailing as virtually all the sailing is done on the way to, and returning home from the event.  We all love this annual end of season chill out- in the small but beautifully formed ‘Phennick Cove Marina’ within the fishing port of Ardglass.   The NIOGA is the fourth largest OGA area, and is ever expanding, everywhere the gaffers go new members seem drawn to join in our unique style of sailing, and enjoying ouselves.  We host a full spectrum of talks, quizzes, gatherings of both a boaty, and musical bent, indeed our annual dinner is gathering a wide attendance from the GB Gaffers,  Those who come either by invitation or free will, keep coming back again and again…. Contact the area: Area President: Alan Aston Tel: +44 (028) 904 26497 e-mail: alan@marinomarine.com   Area Secretary: Peter Lyons Tel: 07711933053 e-mail: nisec@oldgaffersassociation.org