Dinghy Cruising Association
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The Hayling Challenge

This  event was devised by Cliff Martin in 2008 and it has taken place every year since then,    becoming  an important fixture in the DCA South Coast sailing calendar. It happens during the Cobnor Camp fortnight and  entrants sail, row or paddle around Hayling Island on a day of their choosing, starting and finishing at Cobnor Hard.    Over the   years the challenge has been successfully completed in all kinds of dinghies and even a kayak.

Some fine cups are at stake. The Hayling Challenge Trophy is awarded for the best circumnavigation over all. The Allan Earl Trophy for the best rounding in a traditionally-rigged boat  and    the Gunter Grail rewards the best passage under a Mirror-style rig. Follow the links below to read this year’s write-ups, which are both informative and entertaining

The circuit is about 18nm and can be done clockwise or anticlockwise. Passage planning is (usually!) involved as the trip includes two large tidal harbours, two harbour entrances with bars and potentially fast-running tides, a sea passage and a bridge. There is plenty of scope for picnics, pubs and ice cream stops along the way    and entrants have been known to go via the Isle of Wight rather than taking the shortest route.

​Among those who opt for a direct non-stop circuit, the fastest passages have been made over the years in  under 4½ hours.   Typical times are somewhere in the region of 6-8 hours, though of course it’s not a race but a rewarding and sometimes challenging day’s cruise (or more if you go to the Isle of Wight).   

 If you haven’t yet tried the Hayling Challenge, what’s holding you back? It is a deeply satisfying sail in any  weather, while planning an efficient rounding takes mental skill. It can be completed on any day of the  Cobnor camping rally at which    all DCA members are welcome .   Next year's dates for the Cobnor Camp are 16 - 31st August, 2025.
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2024 Entries

Sarah Sorensen          The plan was born of a week of strong wind warnings and mounting cabin fever.      Read on...   

David Sumner                 
I decided that I had spent too many hours tacking against foul tides  in Chichester Harbour..         Read on...

Chris Waite              We've performed this trick so many times now that Polly Wee actually knows her own way round..        Read on...

Mark Tinkler            With only three days at Cobnor the chances of completing a Hayling challenge looked slim.          Read on...

Paul Pearson and Justin Bennett      Sailing separately   in   a rare or possibly even unprecedented joint attempt..          Read on...

​Joe Murphy          Shall I spare you the usual comedy antics at the Bridge   and skip to the bit where I really screwed up..    Read on...

​
Tom Edom             
Strategy: Avoid going to windward unless with the tide and never into waves.        Read on...

​2023 winners

​Hayling Challenge Trophy:                  Mary Dooley and her crew Mark Smith sailing Mary's Scamp Rhubarbie

Allan Earl Trophy:                         Alan Moulton and his crew Neil Sutherland sailing Alan's Deben Lugger Eydis
​
Gunter Grail:                           Pat Ditton  sailing solo in her Mirror dinghy Heron

Presentations were made at the South Coast winter social on Saturday 30th March 2024. The picture shows Alan Moulton receiving his award from Joe Murphy. Alan completed the challenge in just 5 hours 7 minutes, the fastest rounding for several years.
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  • Home
    • About
    • Origins
    • Why join us?
    • Women in the DCA
    • Contact us
  • Cruising
    • Getting started >
      • FAQs
    • Living aboard
    • Taking the family
    • Pilotage Notes >
      • The Dee Estuary
    • Boat Safety Recommendations
    • Howard Rice goes Below 40 South
  • Dinghies
    • John Welsford talks about designing boats
    • Michael Storer talks about becoming a boat designer
    • Boat reviews
    • Technical Articles
    • Roamer and Rebell
    • YM Designs
  • Rallies
    • Rallies in England >
      • South Coast
      • South East
      • South West
      • North West
      • North East
      • East Coast
      • Midlands
    • Rallies in Scotland
    • Rallies in Wales
    • Rallies in Ireland
    • Rallies in North America >
      • Northeast Chapter
      • Pacific Northwest
      • ChesapeakeSWS
    • Rallies in France
    • Rallies in the Netherlands
    • Rallies in Scandinavia
    • Rallies in the Baltic
  • Journal
    • Archive contents
    • Digital Subscribers >
      • 2025 Journals
  • Other Membership Features
    • DCA Library >
      • Good Reads
      • Book Reviews
    • DCA Shop
    • DCA Forum
    • DCA Awards >
      • Naylor Noggin
      • Peter Bick Cup
      • Hayling Challenge
    • Photo Competition
  • Join now
  • Members Section