I am writing this farewell to the association as I am not renewing my membership of the DCA any more. This has come about because I feel that there is a particular strongly felt attitude amongst the officers of the association that I cannot accept.

When I was a sailing instructor, I offered to run a course on capsize based at my local sailing club. There were very few people interested and I could not explain the lack of interest, except for a letter from one of the officers of the association in which she stated that it would be an excellent course provided it was stressed that the main concern was never to capsize. If this is the message that high profile figures in the association are sending to the membership, then it is little surprise that there is no interest in a course in capsize. Since then they have refused to hold any discussion on such a subject.

I believe that to go out into the Solent or a similar sailing area when the crew are so ill prepared is as foolhardy as to leave your anchor and rowlocks behind. Thus I am at such odds with the officers of the DCA that I feel compelled to part company.

There have been reported in the magazine, in recent years, a number of incidents involving unintentional capsizes amongst both newcomers and seasoned sailors. Some have recovered in a satisfactory way, independently and demonstrating good planning and preparation. Others have not been so successful resulting in the need to call on the assistance of others, at best, and damage, including the loss of boats, at worst. Although there has not been a fatality of a DCA member, to my knowledge, it is realistic to state that this is a risk. My concern is not that DCA members have capsized, rather that some are not able to cope with a capsize and that the DCA appears to discouraged any preparation for such an event.

I am sorry that we have to part in this way. The general aims of the association are admirable and the membership tend to be people that I can associate with. I will miss meeting up at the rallies and social meetings and if the officers finally see the light I will be delighted to join in again. Assuming that they don't, all that is left is to wish you all a happy adventurous and safe time dinghy cruising. David Weinstock