Trailer Sailer Page

Treasurer,
Marlene Stevens.

Publicity Officer, Consultant
Vanessa Bird. Tessa Hodgkinson

The OGA Trailer section was formally set up at the 2004 National AGM. At present, it remains a section that covers all areas under a mandate from the AGM.
For some years prior to this, a number of members who own small, generally open, gaff rigged boats had attended week end rallies at Derwentwater and on the East Coast.
The success of the 40th Anniversary Rally at Ullswater, showed that the fun enjoyed by members in the North and the East had a more widespread appeal.
Consequently, rallies have been arranged on the East Coast, at Derwentwater and Ullswater, in the Lake District, at Clywedog Reservoir in Mid Wales, Chichester Harbour and Instow in Devon.
It hoped that in future years, the number of rallies will increase
If you are interested, dates and contacts who will give full details can be found in Gaffers Log and also the OGA web site.
As this is only a section, not an Area, any new members will join their local Area and be registered with, not members of the Trailer Section. Nor is there any intention to take over existing rallies.
. Could all members who are interested in small boat events please register with Mike Stevens , 01792 297445 82 Summerland Park, Upper Killay, SWANSEA SA2 7JA
So, to those of you who have never attended a rally and are wondering what it is all about.. Usually, we try to use a Marina or sailing Club as our base so that we can leave the boats safely overnight and also park the trailers. Generally, most members camp, either in tents or camper vans at a nearby campsite, although some do stay in Guest Houses.
We tend to arrive on a Friday, race on the Saturday, have a fun day on the Sunday, recovering the boats and departing on Sunday afternoon. The theme is mainly "Fun Afloat, Fun Ashore" and games, sing songs or general gossip fill the time off the water. Saturday night normally sees us gathering at a local pub for an OGA supper/prize giving.
One of the main benefits of this activity is the opportunity to sail other waters than your own, learn new skills and meet old and make new friends.
A warm welcome awaits any member or their friends who wish to attend.
If you are not a member, you are cordially invited to attend a rally.

Boats are not all lovingly varnished ,old clinker dinghies but vary from old to new, clinker , through ply to plastic , and in size from under 10 foot to 18-20 foot. Most are open dinghies, although a few have cabins.

Organise and run an OGA small boat rally

A number of members have asked for small boat rallies to be arranged in their areas. Except for the Lake District and the East Coast, little has happened. The obvious answer is that if you want a rally, then you will have to arrange it yourself. In an effort to assist those wishing to do so, these notes have been prepared based on experience in the North.
There is a fundamental difference between a small boat event and a rally. A small boat event is simply a race for small boats. An area can just include it in their calendar and provide a course, committee and starting gun. However, the only boats likely to attend are local ones from that area. generally small boats owned by the cruising members
A rally on the other hand, invites boats from all over the country and the arrangements necessary are therefore much greater. The first need is to find suitable water. Although the sea would seem to be ideal, at a rally, so much has to be crammed into a weekend, it is not really feasible. Members sailing calendars tend to be full, and weekends with suitable tides will probably be already ear marked for large gaffer events. Experience has shown that not having to cope with tides gives a longer time for events besides making launching simpler.
Wherever you choose, the prime need is that it should be easily accessible from major centres of population. Preferably within 25 miles or so of the Motorway network. Some members will travel over 300 miles to a rally, provided that the driving is not too difficult.
Normally, about a mile or so of water will provide a good venue for up to 30 boats. Because a picnic is so much in the OGA small boat tradition, a beach or island is desirable but not essential. There should be a good launching slip, capable of taking boats up to 20 feet in length with sufficient depth of water. Many inland slips fail on this point. Do not take anybody's word for it, check it yourself. Remember that if twenty boats arrive on a Friday evening, it will take some time to launch them all. This is why taking the boats out every night is not a good idea. And the availability of the slip regardless of tides enablesmembers to launch on arrival and so reduces queuing. Some members with larger boats need to use outboard motors. Find out if there are any restrictions or extra licences required for this.
The next matter to consider is where the boats will be left overnight. If a Marina or sailing club is available, security is likely to be less of a problem than if the boats are left overnight where there is public access. Warn members before they agree to attend. If mooring is available, what type is it? A pontoon is ideal, but many will be full of local boats in the summer. If the boats are to be beached on a private beach such as in a marina, be aware that lakes vary their levels. I was once left high and dry at Derwentwater. Having only sailed on the sea, I thought that the level of a lake was static. Unlike the sea, when a lake has fallen, it will only rise after rainfall. Check this with the locals. Also, check the ground under foot at the waters edge; is it sand or East Coast mud?
Each member will need to park his or her trailer. This can generally be arranged at marinas or sailing clubs. Some campsites seem quite amenable to allowing campers to park trailers for a nominal charge.
Select a suitable date. Before setting your date, check for other OGA small boat rallies, also the Traditional Boat show at Beale Park, and the local area OGA races. Keep in mind that OGA members belong to other clubs such as the Nobby Association, Bristol Channel Pilot Cutters, etc.
Most trailer sailors prefer to camp, either in motor vans or tents. A campsite should be chosen, not too far from the sailing venue. If given sufficient notice, many sites will allocate a corner of their field to the OGA. Check the facilities at the site. Are the toilets and showers clean? Are there dishwashing facilities? Is there food available on site? Is there a chemical toilet disposal point and if so, where? Make sure that the site will accept motor vans as well tents, not all do so.
Tips,
Motor caravans when on site and converted to caravans, can take some time to convert back into a car. As organiser, you should try to ensure that everybody helps each other, particularly the newcomers, and try to get members to offer lifts to the motor caravanners.
Some newcomers may find the OGA a bit 'cliquey', it is natural to greet friends that you may only see at rallies and want to swap gossip etc. It is your responsibility to make sure that nobody allows the newcomer to feel out of things. Consider name badges or at the first skippers briefing get everyone to introduce himself or herself.
The programme.
Most OGA events involve a race or two. It is not clear just how much demand there is for races and it has to be said that the small boat racing is not to the Racing Rules but the collision regulations. Experience will show, but for the first rally at least one race could be put on if practical.
But if you put a race on, you will need a safety boat, a committee and probably a committee boat. Also buoys, stopwatch, handicap system, numbers for the boats etc. If only a small number of boats attend, this may smack of overkill, and a cruise in company or treasure hunt etc. may be more suitable.
At first, you can follow the programme used at Derwentwater that has proved very acceptable in the North. "Fun Afloat, Fun Ashore." has proved to be a winning formula, with shore side games offering entertainment and participation, not only to the sailors but also any non-sailing companions that attend.
OGA Supper.
A tradition has grown of having a meal at a local pub on Saturday nights. This has the advantage that if some members stay in B and B accommodation, they can meet up in the evening for gossip and yarns etc. with the campers.
Try to find a pub or restaurant within easy walking distance of the campsite and make sure that their prices are reasonable. It is best to approach the Landlord well in advance to discuss this. Some may have a private room available. You can undertake to inform campsite, sailing club and pub of probable numbers when you have the booking forms back.
During the planning stage, and a year in advance is not too soon, if you know any small boaters, you can canvass them with regard to dates etc., and although they may not give a firm commitment to attend, you will get some idea of likely numbers.
Whilst sponsorship is very acceptable, perhaps it should be restricted to a few "showcase" events. Otherwise it will become more difficult to obtain if the number of events increases. Perhaps we should be content with certificates and small prizes at our rallies. Above all, avoid trophies. Because these have to be returned each year for the next competition, the likelihood is that with members travelling from afar, you will have great problems in getting them back.
Then advertise. Gaffers Log, Water Craft and Classic Boat are suggested. Give your phone number and when you get calls, ask members to send an SAE to you. Send them a brochure showing:
1 Directions to sailing venue and campsite.
2 Description of launching facilities and where they will leave their boats.
3 Trailer parking facilities
4 Car parking.
5 Programme of events.
6 Costs of the rally.
7 Booking form.
Do not despair if only a handful of boats attend at first. Running the event on the same weekend year after year will make it grow.
Take photographs and send reports to the same journals in which you advertised. (Later when T/Section exists, send to secretary) They may not publish them, but the small boating world is close knit and the news will get around.
Once your event has been running successfully, try to persuade some of those that attend to join a committee. Other wise, you may find yourself condemned to ever more running the event. The whole aim is to have resilience through the year in the run up to the event in case you or anyone else find that the demands of family, job etc. preclude your assisting. Also, there is a need for long term succession planning, who is going to take over in the years ahead?