Dinghy Cruising Association
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Why join us?



DCA Members at the 50th Anniversary Rally at Cobnor in 2005

What do some of our members think?

​Michael: 
​The DCA provides me with, in no particular order:
  1. An excellent magazine, worth reading, and a source of solace and inspiration when sailing is not possible.
  2. A friendly Facebook page, where I can get advice, support, encouragement and information from experienced and well intentioned people, free of charge, and within hours (sometimes minutes) of asking any question.
  3. A chance to meet like-minded people in a semi-structured way: a rally, a camp or a day's sailing.  You can "socialise" remotely, sharing the same stretch of water whilst choosing your own level of solitude.
  4. A chance to meet like-minded individuals because we get to "know" each other well enough to make actual contact and meet up.  (So far, I have not taken anyone up on this, but the idea is there for this season.)
  5. A sense of belonging.  I am not just some middle aged saddo living out Swallows and Amazons fantasies in an old fashioned boat.  I am a "dinghy cruiser" and a member of an association that most other sailors have at least heard of.
  6. A sense of legitimacy.  We live in times where anyone who does anything unusual — let alone risky — is the object of suspicion and criticism.  People's reactions soften when they find that in fact there are many thousands of other people who do the same.
  7. Social activities.  Having a chat and a laugh with other sailors who can reminisce about a long row back in an unexpected flat calm or the quiet of a favourite anchorage is a different thing from talking to racers about equipment and techniques.
As things stand, I think the DCA is a pretty good thing, I value my membership, and the club is worth cherishing. 
​
​Steve:
​The unique selling point of the DCA is its events. It's at the events that specialist knowledge is exchanged, either by admiring a home-built or extensively modified vessel being proudly explained by the owner, or around the camp fire over a beer and a BBQ dinner, or at an annual meeting. I believe that the members of the DCA are the most knowledgeable, experienced, inventive, creative, adventurous, interesting (I could keep going) collection of individuals with incredible specialist knowledge. The DCA brings specialists together. It gives a voice to and encourages the dissemination of expert information to other members. Easily overlooked from within, astonishing to view from outside.
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Lottie, age 11 , pictured  enjoying a lunch break with her brother, wrote a beautiful poem  after  their day out sailing.
​Here are some extracts from...    The Deep Blue

​
The deep blue, 
A mystery to me
But all I know is...

The sight of white horses  skimming the waves
Mermaid's hair beneath the boat
Gliding away to the bottom of the deep
The sound of seagulls   soaring above
Crashing waves   upon the hull
​The deep blue
A mystery to me
But all I know is...

The smell of salt   h
its me full on
Musty seaweed   never ever gone
​
The feeling of plunging   your hand in cold water
The sand in between   my frozen toes
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​The deep blue
A mystery to me
But all I know is...

The taste of salt  on my cracked lips
A McDonald's Happy Meal   after a long hard trip
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You would like to join the DCA?
​Then click this button!
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Annual Subscription Rates 2025
​Members  living in the UK         £30     p.a.
This includes   delivery of the quarterly journal Dinghy Cruising either as a paper copy by post or as a pdf copy by email.
​A gift option is available.

Members living outside the UK   can pay
either £35  p.a.      This rate includes delivery of the quarterly journal Dinghy Cruising as a paper copy by post
or                  £30    p.a.      This  rate  includes delivery of the quarterly journal Dinghy Cruising as a pdf copy by email
Your membership will run for one year from your date of joining.  You will receive a reminder when your next subscription is due and if you have set up a direct debit or card payment, it will be collected automatically.  You can, of course, cancel your payment method at any time but please notify us if you decide to cancel your membership.
​Please note ALL members agree to  the   Rules of the Association
and should familiarise themselves with   the DCA Data Privacy Policy   before applying.
 APPLICATION FORM FOR POSTING IN THE UK
If you know someone in the UK who does not have a computer and would like to join the DCA, please download and print the following form for them. They can then complete and post the form with a cheque or postal order to the address given on the form.
Download Application Form

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The friendly club with a sense of adventure. For all sailors who use boats for more than just racing.

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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