The following by the late Eric Coleman, is a summary of events leading up to the formation of the Dinghy Cruising Association — reprinted from Bulletin No.1 published in 1955.

In the December issue of the Yachting Monthly 1952, I read a letter signed ‘Clubless’ stating that he had been invited to join a local sailing club, but since he was only interested in day cruising in a dinghy he saw no point in so doing, owing to the fact that the dinghy section of the club was solely concerned in racing. He asked if there was any organisation catering for the requirements of sailing enthusiasts like himself.

I replied to this letter (Y.M. Feb 53) under the pen name ‘Lonehand’ saying that I had cruised in the Solent for some years without meeting another cruising enthusiast and consequently I had had to learn the slow way and would therefore welcome some organisation through which I could contact other enthusiasts, so that information could be exchanged on all aspects of dinghy cruising.

In Y.M. Mar.53 a letter from Mr. Mitchell replying to mine suggested a cruising association. I then wrote up (Y.M. Apr.53) in reply to Mr. Mitchell’s letter, offering to form a dinghy cruising association. About a dozen replies from people ‘interested’ were received but I was not actually able to meet another active enthusiast. I circulated a notice giving details of four rallies but became rather tired of meeting only myself at them, so the whole idea fell through.

One Friday evening in January this year, I reached home and was told by my people that someone called Michael Lawes from Lymington had rung up saying that he has just read a letter of mine in Yachting Monthly and wished to contact me before sailing to Malta in his dinghy. Feeling slightly dazed, I rang him up next day and he arranged to come over to Bognor Regis Sunday morning. The next day was a great occasion for, after cruising for four years, I was actually meeting an active dinghy cruising enthusiast. I travelled back to Lymington with Mike and had a thorough look over his boat, thereby gaining some immensely useful information. He told me that he had seen my letter when he had picked up a two year old copy of Yachting Monthly in a doctor’s waiting room when having his inoculations prior to going abroad! He was convinced that a lot of people would like to take up dinghy cruising but were not sure whether it was practicable in view of adverse opinion on the sport. He urged me to make a further attempt at forming the association and, as a result, my letter in Y.M. Mar.55 and other publications brought a very favourable response. Although my letters were addressed to south coast enthusiasts, many enquiries were received from the east coast, so two sections were formed. J.D. Reeve and Lt.Commr. G.D. Fairley R.N. were instrumental in organising the south coast section and T. Thorp, secretary of the Maldon Y.H.A. Sailing Group and Miss J. Bentley (Joan Abrams) the east coast section.