In the Bulletin for spring 1985 I analysed the membership list to find which were the most popular dinghies among our members. I also counted the number of members within each membership number group of 100 to see how long individuals tended to stay in the DCA. The tables show the result for 1985 compared with that for spring 1992.

1885 1992 DR Lugger 8.0% Wayfarer 7.2% Mirror 7.4 Mirror 6.0 GP 14 5.0 DR Lugger 4.9 Wayfarer 4.7 GP14 4.3 Heron 3.3 Tideway 3.4 Tideway 3.0 DR Dabber 3.2 Mirror 16 2.1 WW Potter 2.9 WW Potter 1.8 Wanderer 14 2.9 Roamer 1.2 Enterprise 2.0 Enterprise 1.2 Roamer 2.0 DR Longboat 1.2 Gull 1.7 Skipper 12 1.2 Mirror 16 1.7 Wanderer 14 1.2 YW Day boat 1.7 Cormorant 1.5 Laser 16 1.5

The Top Ten list for 1986 was very similar to that for 1985. The new Ten still includes the well-tried favourites but a notable difference is the distinct decline in the number of Drascombe Luggers relative to that of Wayfarers.

MEMBERSHIP

In 1985 there was a 50/50 chance that a member would remain in the DCA until 200 more members had joined. This time the rate of loss appears to be somewhat lower, the 50/50 point being reached at about 300 more members having joined. The dip in the 1200s was caused by a block of USA members leaving with the blessing of the DCA to found their own association in the States.