50 years ago the late Eric Coleman wrote his first letters to Yachting Monthly asking if anyone was interested in dinghy cruising; as it turned out this did not lead to any immediate results, but it does give us the opportunity to plan something for the 50th anniversary of the actual founding of the DCA which comes in 2005. I know that this seems a long way ahead, but the longer we have to plan, and the longer people have to get used to the idea of such an event, the better the chance of its success. I therefore suggest that, during this coming year, we discuss what we might do, both between ourselves and in the pages of the Bulletin, with the intention of forming a sub-committee at the next AGM in 2004.

This committee, made up of those members who might volunteer or be persuaded to volunteer, would then be given a brief and a budget to prepare an event to take place in 2005. While I am aware that, generally speaking, the members of the DCA are not noticeably clubbable or conspicuously willing to be organized, I believe that we should be able to provide one event in 50 years that will attract a good proportion of the members to a communal celebration, even if only by the assurance that it will not be repeated for another 50 years. To outline briefly where my thinking has got to so far.

WHEN? - the Bank Holiday at the end of May. The days are long; the weather has some chance of being warm, and people can get away for three or more days.

WHERE? - the Solent. It is the birthplace of the DCA, has excellent boating facilities and cruising waters with double high tides, a large concentration of members within easy reach, and it has good communications with the rest of the country (although those living on the East Coast may think it is the wrong side of London, those in the North will think it is at the wrong end of the country and those in Scotland, that it is in the wrong country!).

WHAT? - A really big rally with the aim of attracting 50 - 100 boats, with the possibility of a cruise to the Isle of Wight for a night away. The AGM could be moved to the same date to make it mutually attractive to those who go to rallies and those who go to AGMs. Plenty of chatting and mutual boat admiration time, and we can add anything that people might like - music, dancing, boat jumble, informal competitive boating activities. You make the suggestions. We might also consider admitting the public and a commercial element with trade stands and perhaps funding.

In a bit more detail - the Hamble river offers water at all states of tide, good shelter and easy access to open water, it should be possible to come to an arrangement with one of the marinas to keep our boats afloat, and one of the yacht clubs to use their accommodation -that would be for the committee to work on. There is a nearby camping and caravan site and plenty of B&B accommodation in the village.

The members at the AGM agreed to the proposal, but please make your views on the matter known. Although I did not say so at the time, I would like to receive your suggestions and comments both on my suggestions and any alternatives and additions to them - preferably in writing - and I will collate them so that they may form part of the brief to the committee when it is assembled at the 2004 AGM.