Rallies

​Rallies are held across the UK and overseas.  They range from day sails to short camp cruises in sheltered waters or coastal venues. They are always an occasion for socialising, making new friends, comparing notes and boats and lots of picnics! They are not organised events where you follow instructions. You can sail in company or you can sail alone, you make your own decisions. At some rallies people all launch from the same place; at others they launch at different locations and meet up at a designated spot. 

​The DCA does not run a safety boat.  Individual sailors must decide whether they, their crew and their boat can handle the expected conditions. Always check weather forecasts and local conditions before you sail, and remember there is no shame in deciding not to sail if you think conditions are more than you or your boat can manage.​  Dinghy cruising on exposed tidal waters is for experienced sailors only.
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Lunch break at Loch Lomond
 All members are welcome at rallies, with or without their own boat.  Depending on the location, members cruise not just in sailing dinghies but also in rowing boats, kayaks and canoes, and there are often opportunities to  crew for others. Members should always contact the organiser of the rally in advance, to make their intention to participate known,  especially if looking for crewing opportunities, and thus ensure that they are kept informed of plans and any changes that may occur.

If you sail with members of your family, particularly young people, please remember that you are fully responsible for their safety  as their parent or grandparent.

​Although rallies are for DCA members, if you are thinking of joining the  Association and wish to meet some of us and sample a rally please email  the Regional Secretaries, specifying which rally you are interested in attending and giving details of your boat and sailing experience.   The relevant Regional Secretary will  put you in touch with the rally organiser if s/he thinks it is a suitable occasion for you to attend.   You will be responsible for your own safety just as members are and expected to have third party boat insurance.

Rally programmes are agreed among members  early in the year at meetings or  through discussion on the Forum or by email.    The finalised programmes are always included in the Dinghy Cruising journal sent to all members and are posted in the   Forum  as well as here on the website on the following rally pages.  It is important to remember that these are always subject to changes and members planning to attend a rally are advised to check with the person hosting the rally or look for updates on the Forum. 
Members have organised themselves into the following groups to facilitate the planning process:
  1. England:     South Coast;   South East; South West;   East Coast;   Midlands;   North East;   North West -    including North Wales
  2. South Wales
  3. North of Scotland
  4. South of Scotland
  5. Ireland - including Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
  6. France
  7. Netherlands
  8. Scandinavia
  9. North America - including Canada and the USA
  10. South and East Baltic
​​Most groups have a volunteer Regional Secretary to coordinate discussions.

Pop up Rallies

If any member of the DCA is planning to go sailing and thinks it would be good to have company, they are welcome to make a post   on the Forum giving details of when and where they plan to launch, what the proposed route and duration would be and how they can be contacted by anyone interested to join them.  This can be accompanied by a post on the Facebook page with a note saying, for example, 'Pop up rally this weekend in the North West region' - for further information please login to the DCA Forum.

Non DCA raids and festivals that may be of interest:

UK Europe


​Wojtek Baginski shares his photos from some overseas raids that were attended by DCA members:
  • Raid Finland   One    and   Two  and
  • Raid Poland   One  and   Two.