Most dinghy sailors are already dinghy cruisers, they just don't know it yet. If you only ever race around the cans then we aren’t for you but if you sometimes like to explore a little, take a picnic and take your time then you’re one of us.
The Dinghy Cruising Association exists to inspire and connect dinghy cruisers. There are dozens of meet-ups happening all over the country throughout the summer. Put the boat on a trailer and explore new sailing grounds with kindred spirits.
Here’s our attempt to answer some of the FAQs we tend to get each year at the Dinghy Show
The Dinghy Cruising Association exists to inspire and connect dinghy cruisers. There are dozens of meet-ups happening all over the country throughout the summer. Put the boat on a trailer and explore new sailing grounds with kindred spirits.
Here’s our attempt to answer some of the FAQs we tend to get each year at the Dinghy Show
Do I need any special equipment?
You might need to invest in a small anchor and a few roll top dry bags to keep stuff dry and perhaps some more safety equipment, see below.
You might need to invest in a small anchor and a few roll top dry bags to keep stuff dry and perhaps some more safety equipment, see below.
Is it dangerous?
It could be. Wikipedia has this dry entry about DCA member Frank Dye’s adventures in his 16ft Wayfarer :
“In July 1964, Dye, along with crew member, Bill Brockbank, sailed the 650 nautical miles between Scotland and Norway. During the voyage they ran into a force 9 gale and were capsized four times. Their mast had been shattered but they managed to jury-rig another...”
However
a) They survived
b) You’re not going to do anything that crazy are you?
c) We’ve been building on Frank’s pioneering legacy for 60 years. Read and follow our safety advice and you’ll be OK.
It could be. Wikipedia has this dry entry about DCA member Frank Dye’s adventures in his 16ft Wayfarer :
“In July 1964, Dye, along with crew member, Bill Brockbank, sailed the 650 nautical miles between Scotland and Norway. During the voyage they ran into a force 9 gale and were capsized four times. Their mast had been shattered but they managed to jury-rig another...”
However
a) They survived
b) You’re not going to do anything that crazy are you?
c) We’ve been building on Frank’s pioneering legacy for 60 years. Read and follow our safety advice and you’ll be OK.
Will the extra cruising kit make her less seaworthy?
If kept sealed, those extra dry bags add extra buoyancy so she won’t be any less buoyant than usual. The main difference is there's more stuff to float off, sink or get tangled up, so make sure you’ve lashed it all down and ideally practice a fully laden capsize drill.
If kept sealed, those extra dry bags add extra buoyancy so she won’t be any less buoyant than usual. The main difference is there's more stuff to float off, sink or get tangled up, so make sure you’ve lashed it all down and ideally practice a fully laden capsize drill.
© fsanmiguel
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I can’t reef my dinghy. Is that a problem? Great Question. We strongly recommend that you have a reefable mainsail. Often the answer is to take an old sail to a sailmaker and ask them to add reefing points (holes). From there you can hack a solution together. Ask on our Facebook page or Members Forum where we have a bottomless supply of Old Salts. It’s likely one of us will have done this to your class of dinghy already. |
How do you go to the loo?
If we had a penny for every time this question’s been asked we’d have too many to spend!
Bucket and chuck it is the standard answer. People usually manage to hold it in till they stop and beach the boat perhaps for a pub/cafe stop or go over the side for a swim. Honestly, it’s not a problem. We’ve never heard of anyone finding this a deal breaker. More detail than you want here.
If we had a penny for every time this question’s been asked we’d have too many to spend!
Bucket and chuck it is the standard answer. People usually manage to hold it in till they stop and beach the boat perhaps for a pub/cafe stop or go over the side for a swim. Honestly, it’s not a problem. We’ve never heard of anyone finding this a deal breaker. More detail than you want here.
Is Dinghy Cruising for Families?
It's a great way to instill a sense of adventure in children and to connect them to the rhythms of the natural world. An open sailboat puts everyone up close and personal with the water, the boat and each other in a way that intensifies family experiences. Nobody’s down below on their iPad. Dinghy cruising is a surefire way to create family legends. Even if (perhaps especially if) it all goes a bit sideways, it’ll still be unforgettable. Generations of dinghy cruisers keep coming back for more, see our Taking the family page.
It's a great way to instill a sense of adventure in children and to connect them to the rhythms of the natural world. An open sailboat puts everyone up close and personal with the water, the boat and each other in a way that intensifies family experiences. Nobody’s down below on their iPad. Dinghy cruising is a surefire way to create family legends. Even if (perhaps especially if) it all goes a bit sideways, it’ll still be unforgettable. Generations of dinghy cruisers keep coming back for more, see our Taking the family page.
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Do I need special clothing? Take the outer layers that you would use for rainwear on a long walk. Some kind of anorak, waterproof leggings and a warm top (not cotton or anything else that gets soggy quickly). You can watch our president talking underpants in this video... |
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Do I need an outboard engine?
Lots of us go engineless, taking just a pair of oars. If you are a bit more time pressured an outboard is a great idea. It’ll extend your cruising range. DCA members have fitted outboard brackets to Mirror dinghies and smaller.
Where can I cruise?
We have 40-50 rallies a year which visit the best cruising grounds in the UK. Come and join us on one of those as a first step. The DCA divides the UK into 5 regions with an expert team in each who would love to advise and help you get cruising. Details of our rally programmes can be found here.
Lots of us go engineless, taking just a pair of oars. If you are a bit more time pressured an outboard is a great idea. It’ll extend your cruising range. DCA members have fitted outboard brackets to Mirror dinghies and smaller.
Where can I cruise?
We have 40-50 rallies a year which visit the best cruising grounds in the UK. Come and join us on one of those as a first step. The DCA divides the UK into 5 regions with an expert team in each who would love to advise and help you get cruising. Details of our rally programmes can be found here.
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How does overnight camping work? Our rallies are often to official campsites or jetties and beaches beside pubs and organised with appropriate landowners’ permissions. DCA members can advise on other great locations. Wild camping is having a moment. There’s even a guidebook which features many waterside locations. Make sure you are respectful and leave no trace. |
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How would I fit a tent and sleeping bags into my tiny dinghy? You’d be surprised how much you can fit in. Last year at this show we featured Mary Dooley’s Mirror dinghy with her pop up tent in which she cruises and sleeps happily. I can’t see us sleeping on board with the children. Sleeping in a tent on land is often the best solution for families. The kids can run around, you've got space to dry your kit and maybe the magic of a campfire. The DCA’s annual Cobnor week rally at a campsite on Chichester Harbour is a fantastic child friendly event. |
Mary Dooley's Mirror at the 2020 Dinghy Show
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How do you cook a hot meal on board?
Figuring this out is often the most enjoyable part of dinghy cruising. People tend to start with a basic £20 camping cassette stove and go on to build themselves a galleybox. Many, many articles about dinghy cooking exist in our Journal or on our forum. The self-sufficient satisfaction of making hot food and drinks while floating in a tiny dinghy is one of the great joys of this ‘small footprint’ thing of ours.
Figuring this out is often the most enjoyable part of dinghy cruising. People tend to start with a basic £20 camping cassette stove and go on to build themselves a galleybox. Many, many articles about dinghy cooking exist in our Journal or on our forum. The self-sufficient satisfaction of making hot food and drinks while floating in a tiny dinghy is one of the great joys of this ‘small footprint’ thing of ours.
The friendly club with a sense of adventure. For all sailors who use boats for more than just racing.
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