The Dinghy Cruising Association may be 70 years old – but it’s never been so on trend, reports Laura Hodgetts
dinghy
Want to build a stitch and glue boat? Get your design plans and start now!
Due to popular demand, Tim Owen shares his stitch-and-glue design ideas for a rigid 8ft plywood rowing dinghy. He built his 50 years ago in 24 hours – it’s still…
Medway Doble: the classic sprit sail dinghy
Small boat enthusiast Clive Marsh celebrates the Medway Doble, a derivative of the Peter Boat and other small sprit sail dinghies
Why you should consider the weight of boat tools
Minimise the need for weighty tools on board by swapping metal parts with wood and rope, and muffling those you can’t with leather, says Clive Marsh
SeaHawk 17: the mini yacht that has it all
Can’t choose between a bilge keel, fin keel or drop keel/centreplate for your boat? Then why not get a yacht that has all three…
Seaworthy, cheap dinghies for less than £500
For low cost traditionally-styled GRP trailer-sailers, consider the Foreland and the Otter available at bargain basement prices
Pair sail around the three longest lakes in England, Wales and Scotland in 28 hours
RS Aero sailors Ken Fowler and Peter Barton took 28 hours to sail around the three longest lakes in England, Wales and Scotland
The Voyager: a midget gem
Shorter than most dinghies but with twin ballasted keels and a proper cabin, the Voyager opens up a whole new world of budget boating. David Harding reports
Scow boats: sturdy little sea-going vessels
Clive shares his love of the South Coast variety Avon Scow: 11ft lug-sailed boats with a heavy galvanised steel centreplate
The UK Cadet Class World Championships need your help!
The volunteer-run UK Cadet Class World Championships take place this summer, and support is being sought for the hundreds of young sailors who are taking part
Dinghy sailing skills for cruisers
What can a lapsed cruising sailor learn from a dinghy course? A lot, as Ali Wood discovers when she returns to the water for her RYA Level 3
Lune Pilot 11: why you should sail this fine, little boat
A very interesting boat with a long keel, which makes it slightly unusual for a dinghy
Ken Fowler: How I circumnavigated every island in England and Wales in a 4m dinghy!
RS Aero sailor Ken Fowler is the first person to sail solo around every island in England and Wales. He explains how he did it
Sailing the 3.3m Jack de Crow from the Black Sea to Venice
Sandy Mackinnon sailed the 10.8ft Jack de Crow across the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to fullfil his dream of sailing from Romania to Italy
Inflatable boat valve replacement: step by step
A failed inner valve could spell the end of an inflatable tender – but Jake Frith has a fix
Margaret and Frank Dye: open boat pioneers
Roger Barnes reflects on the legacy of small-boat sailors Margaret and Frank Dye
Tideway 10: Gunter or Lugger?
The trailerable Tideway 10 has the benefits of her sister vessel, the Tideway 12, but is lighter and easier to launch and recover by hand
Dinghy launch trolley renovation: make it look as good as new!
Rather than bin a rusty dinghy launch trolley, Alec Marsh saves cash - and landfill - and repairs it
Cruising dinghies for timeless adventures
Trailer-sailers can be stored at home, may not need a motor and can provide cosy accommodation with clever use of a boat tent
What does my child need for dinghy sailing?
Alice Thorogood has three children who are members of the UK National Cadet Class Association. She shares what parents need to think about when their child starts dinghy sailing, from…