The Old Gaffers Association (OGA - The Association for Gaff Rig Sailing) is an unincorporated association formed in 1963 in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

to promote the use of the

Gaff rig Gaff rig is a sailing rig (configuration of sails, mast and stays) in which the sail is four-cornered, fore-and-aft rigged, controlled at its peak and, usually, its entire head by a spar (pole) called the ''gaff''. Because of the size and shape ...

. It currently states its aim as 'to encourage interest in

gaff rig Gaff rig is a sailing rig (configuration of sails, mast and stays) in which the sail is four-cornered, fore-and-aft rigged, controlled at its peak and, usually, its entire head by a spar (pole) called the ''gaff''. Because of the size and shape ...

, lug and

spritsail The spritsail is a four-sided, fore-and-aft sail that is supported at its highest points by the mast and a diagonally running spar known as the sprit. The foot of the sail can be stretched by a boom or held loose-footed just by its sheets. A spr ...

rigs'. It was originally created in the early 1960s when some recreational sailors became concerned that traditional sailing boats were disappearing from British shores. It was hoped that holding races specifically for traditional boats would encourage people to own and maintain the boats. The activities have expanded over the years and now include a range of sailing and social events including winter lectures, cruising in company and events for small boats. The rules of the association require every area to hold at least one event every year which should include a race for gaff rigged boats. Most areas hold additional events including: * The Yarmouth Gaffers Regatta in the Solent (was held biennially, but in September 2018 it was announced that the event would no longer be held) * The August Classics Cruise in Suffolk and Essex * The Dublin Bay OGA Regatta * The Campbelltown Classics * Portaferry Sails and Sounds * Holyhead Traditional Boat Festival The OGA has a Youth Fund which provides small grants to OGA Areas to help fund events which get young people out sailing on traditionally rigged boats. Grants can also be made, on the recommendation of OGA Areas, for non-OGA projects fitting the criteria of the fund. The OGA has members all over the world. It has close links with affiliated associations in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

, the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

(which has members in

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

History

The first ever ‘Old Gaffers’ race was held on the

Solent The Solent ( ) is a strait between the Isle of Wight and Great Britain. It is about long and varies in width between , although the Hurst Spit which projects into the Solent narrows the sea crossing between Hurst Castle and Colwell Bay to ...

in 1959, with just 13 boats. A similar race was held on the east coast of

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

in 1963. The growing success of these early races, open to gaff rig boats, led to the formation of the OGA as a national association at the Little Ship Club,

Maldon, Essex Maldon (, locally ) is a town and civil parish on the Blackwater estuary in Essex, England. It is the seat of the Maldon District and starting point of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. It is known for Maldon Sea Salt which is produced ...

in 1963. In the early days, activities were focussed on rescuing or preserving old gaff rigged boats. Over the years areas have come and gone but Sailing Gaffers provides some indication of when the current areas started. * 1963 Solent, East Coast * 1973 South West, Scotland * 1974 North East * 1978 Bristol Channel * 1989 Northern Ireland, North West * 1991 Dublin Bay * 1997 North Wales * 2004 Trailer Section In 2013 the association celebrated its 50th anniversary with the publication of a book of stories from the history of the Association. 21 member boats from the UK and the Netherlands took part in a UK circumnavigation (Round Britain Challenge) and hosted a number of area based events culminating in a Golden Jubilee Festival at

Cowes Cowes () is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina, facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east bank. The two towns are linked by the Cowes Floa ...

attended by more than 180 gaff-rigged boats.

References

{{Reflist

External links

OGA Website

Netherlands OGA

British Columbia OGA

OGA Western Australia

Fédération des Vieux Gréements de France
Non-profit organisations based in the United Kingdom Sailing in the United Kingdom Sailing associations