The correspondence on general-purpose dinghies has become utterly confused, negative and counterproductive. May I therefore just say that, rightly or wrongly, I cannot accept the statements made in Peter Bick’s last letter and leave it at that!

The DCA Bulletin needs to provide more factual information and hard news and less subjective opinion. I would like to see more of Peter’s technical articles, and details of the new designs that he saw at Southampton Boat Show would also be interesting.

Incidentally, as PB mentioned in the last issue, just because a boat is made from wood, it doesn’t necessarily look good. Many 14’ Roamers look ugly, and this is a poor advertisement for the DCA. Yet the right choice of paint scheme can make all the difference. As in other boats with superstructures above the sheerline, accentuating the sheerline together with a sensitive choice of colours can make all the difference. A good example is Peter Bick’s Roamer, where the sheerline is accentuated with a heavy white rubber fender-strip (his addition of a cabin hatch is incidental to the appearance).

Changing the subject, one of the advantages of the lighter boats is that they can more easily be hauled ashore, even from an open-sea beach in the right conditions. The new Wayfarer manual goes into this in some detail, and suggests that 100mm bore pva drainpipes, 1.5m long, could be used as non-floating rollers. I tried 4’ lengths for my 14’ Leader and it seems to work surprisingly well. As the manual points out, practice and preparation would be needed to effect the manoeuvre successfully when breakers were coming in.

The Wayfarer Class Association and the RYA coaching staff between them have pioneered a great deal of advanced dinghy cruising practice. We need to have closer links with them both for mutual benefit.

Regarding possible DCA cruises for next season, I agree with Joan that cruising in company would be impractical (except perhaps on inland waterways). With a fair wind, boats tend to travel at the same speed and, of course, sail together, but tacking in a blustery wind and against a strong tide, the fleet splits up with the more highly skilled helmsmen out of sight before they notice the absence of any others. This happens even with one-design dinghies, so think what it would be like with the DCA menagerie of boats!

Among the ideas that I have dreamt up and then rejected are:

relay circumnavigation of Southern England (via Thames, Kennet & Avon). down the Tyne to Holy Island (dangerous in strong easterlies). Island of Rhum (would need a Wayfarer or Roamer — walking the Rhum Cuillins). cruising to Skye and remote areas nearby. Possible ascent of Skye peaks for those with mountaineering (walking) experience.

Do these suggestions spark off any more practical ideas?