The continuing success of the OGA Youth Fund depends on donations from members and non-members alike.

If you like what you see and what we have achieved so far in the 'Awards Made' section, then please think about making a donation. All money donated will be held in a separate OGA account and ring-fenced for use in accordance with the strict criteria of Youth Fund grants.

To make a donation, email for our bank details or you can send a cheque by post to:

OGA Youth Fund
2, Tythe Barn Way, South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, CM3 5PX

To accomplish the RYA Day Skipper qualification to support the Excelsior Trust as volunteer crew in future sailing trips, such as the Tall Ship Races. £500 contribution towards RYA Day Skipper course fees.

Thomasina wrote: "I will have improved my boat handling skills and have more confidence in being in control of a boat and crew. I will have a more rounded and complete understanding of sailing as a whole, becoming more independent, able to make more decisions independently and ultimately be more able to effectively lead groups. I will have a more developed view on safety measures on the boat and at sea.

As a result of completing the RYA Day Skipper course, both the Excelsior crew and I will feel more comfortable knowing my capabilities onboard, therefore I can be more proficient during watches and in navigation.  My maintenance skills on Excelsior will be improved because of a better understanding of how boats work, and I will be better at teaching young people and passengers about sailing, and what the different parts of the boat do.

I am a young person interested in learning more about historic vessels and how they work, therefore keeping traditional boats, boating and their maintenance alive. With improved awareness of the work that goes into keeping a traditional ship in good condition and sailing, I can develop my skills to ensure that I play my part in this continuing to happen. Recently, I travelled from my home of Shetland to volunteer for 7 days at the Excelsior Trust yard, supporting the annual refit prior to the sailing season. By gathering experience and by completing my day skipper, I will be a better sailor and volunteer crew onboard Excelsior, and I will have transferable skills and knowledge for other Old Gaffers in the future."

See the article in the Winter 2025 issue of the Gaffers Log magazine.

The North East Area received a grant to build an OGA Dinghy. 

“Des O'Meara, ex NE OGA President, collected the first dinghy kit from Dragon Yachts, Aldeburgh. He made the epic journey back North in his trusty motor home crammed with plywood and timber. We met with the head of Tunstall College of Science, Hartlepool who confirmed their enthusiasm for the project and set up a simple memorandum of understanding to allocate responsibilities between NE OGA and the College. The dinghy will remain the property of NE OGA but be on long term loan to the school.

We agreed the completed dinghy would be kept and operated at Tees & Hartlepool YC who have a dedicated dinghy section. This will ensure continued use of the dinghy to encourage sailing gaff rigged vessels amongst young people of Hartlepool and the surrounding area. We also agreed to build the basic hull for them, the most critical part, especially around the bow where  some steaming and forming are required. A select party of NE OGA 'experts' was put together to accomplish this part of the build. The problem was where to build it?

Our esteemed President, Des, managed to get permission from Blyth Port Authority to use an unoccupied building within the port. Unfortunately, this was the old mortuary building! At least it is 'dead' centre of the harbour, especially since we didn't have a 'ghost' of a chance of finding anywhere else and the location at least encourages us all to approach the work with the right 'spirit'.

Over the past few weeks we have completed the hull, neatly stitched, taped and glued. It also has its first coat of sealant and primer. We will deliver the hull to the school by the end of October. Our tame shipwright, Martin, will help the school to start the build and provide ongoing technical support. We expect the dinghy to be ready to go in the water next Spring.

We've raised the funding through various sources, a couple of NE OGA functions, donations received from the general public at the Amble Puffin Festival and generous donations from individual NE OGA members. The contribution from the OGA Youth Fund was of immeasurable value and `primed the pump' for the dinghy fund.

We are well advanced with preparations for our second build and have been invited to visit the prestigious Duchess School, Alnwick to discuss the project with them. Activities to fund this build are underway but you can still help out by sending spare pennies you might find down the side of the settee! NE OGA nesec@oga.org.uk . if you want to support this excellent project. We will be applying for a second grant from the Youth Fund to help us out.”

Awards were made to the Solent, N Ireland and East Coast Areas.

West Mersea Sea Scouts once again sailed aboard the Essex smack, 'Sallie'.

A report from Northern Ireland was published in the July 2017 issue of Gaffers Log, download a copy below.

Young gaffer, Felix Williams, reports on his second sail aboard 'Amelie Rose' in the Solent Area Annual Race.

NIOGA-Youth-2017

[pdf 481KB]

to support students from Cork who sailed in Dublin Bay.