East Coast
Berwick on Tweed to Ramsgate
From Ramsgate to Berwick upon Tweed
The East Coast Area of the OGA now stretches from Kent up to Northumberland, after our amalgamation with the North East Area, We have strong links with the Dutch OGA and run many social and sailing events throughout the year.
Sailing events are open to all gaff, lug, square and gunter rigged vessels (there's no age limit) and classic Bermudan yachts traditionally designed before 1960. We also welcome traditionally built vintage powered vessels, such as MFVs. And we have a large 'Small Boat' fleet including Gafflings, Smacks Boats, Gaff-rigged Wayfarers, Drascombes, and other dinghies. Our small boat programme is very well supported.
Harris Smack Ellen and Zulu pilot vessel Rely
East Coast Area Committee
The following Officers were elected at the AGM in November 2025.
Your Committee meets monthly, typically in Mistley and via ZOOM, to plan and manage our lively annual programme. There are several sub-committees to deal with specific tasks and events which may require more detailed work. We're always keen to hear your ideas and receive offers of help from East Coast OGA members.
Area President: Paul Masters
I have been an East Coast OGA member since 1993 with my wife Jo. We sail ‘Clytie’ a gaff cutter built in Woodbridge in 1922, where we live, for Jo’s Great Grandfather. Our three children have grown up sailing ‘Clytie’, and with other East Coast young gaffers now skipper and race with the East Coast Gaffers. This year we’re venturing further afield, aiming to cross the Atlantic in our boat purchased for the adventure ‘Skybird’. When I am not sailing or thinking about sailing, I run an International Horticultural Sales & Consultancy business.
Area Secretary & Vice President: Pete ‘the knife’ Elliston (PTK)
I joined the OGA in 1996 after three years sailing the Thames Bawley ‘Good Intent’. Sarah Adie and I met at an OGA party and Jon Wainwright lent us ‘Deva’. I sailed on many East Coast smacks including ‘Ellen’ and ‘Quiz’. We have owned and sailed ‘Reverie’, an Itchen Ferry, for 18 years, converted and sail our gaff rigged Wayfarer ‘Papa Little’ and smack boat ‘Papa Stour’. We led the build of the Gaffling ‘Essling’ in Mistley with East Coast OGA team members. I recently retired from my work at Sizewell B Nuclear power station for Lloyds Register (LRQA) after 14 years. I also have a ‘smacksmithing workshop’ (blacksmithing for smacks) in North Essex and can often be seen (or heard) messing about on the River Stour!
Honorary Area Vice President: Francis Mogg
Francis Mogg currently serves as President of the North East OGA and Honorary Vice President of the East Coast OGA. He has been a keen sailor from childhood days, learning to sail in Fowey River Class, gunter rig dinghies. Since 2000 Francis has been the proud owner of ‘Stella Marjorie’, a Cornish Crabber Mk 1. He is a qualified RYA Coastal Skipper and a member of the Royal Northumberland Yacht Club. He found his way to the OGA through his late friend and NE OGA President, Des O'Meara.
Sarah Adie
I've been a member of the OGA for 23 years and at the Stour Sailing Club in Manningtree for 35 years. After a long break from SSC committee work and following the departure of several key people on the East Coast OGA committee I felt it was time to step up! Also I'll find it easier to keep tabs on what PTK is up to!
Area Treasurer: Yvonne Graham
I joined the OGA with my husband after he purchased and renovated ‘Firefly’ in the early 1990’s. More recently we (well, mainly Rik) have sailed ‘Kelpie 2’ before selling her this year. I have been involved with the committee for about ten years, latterly as minutes secretary. Although we no longer sail due to ill-health, we are both still very committed to the OGA which has been a source of so much friendship and assistance over the years. Having spent all my working life in finance, I hope that I can now bring my experience to the role of Treasurer.
Eastcoaster Editor: Beverley Yates
I joined the East Coast OGA, with husband Steve, when we purchased ‘Cachalot’ in 2005. After our first season sailing, we spent ten years restoring her and got to know many East Coast Gaffers who provided excellent support and encouragement throughout the long project. I was OGA Editor (Log and Online) 2014 - 2020 with Steve doing all the ‘colouring in’ to make the publications look good. Until retiring, we ran our own business for print and online.
George Hutley
My first experience of sailing was in 2011. I attended the East Coast Summer Cruise starting at Ipswich. There were 100 people on 'Rely' singing happy birthday to a boat. As a non sailing person I found this to be most odd. However I did decide to stay and see out the week, crewing on ‘Rely'. I haven’t looked back. I recently acquired a MK1 Drascombe Lugger which I hope to be bringing to some small boat events next year.
Ed Roberts
I’ve been sailing with the East Coast OGA since the age of 10 when I was invited on the smack ‘Quiz’ with my uncle and aunt for the OGA 40th anniversary cruise. Since then I have returned for the cruise most years, first with my uncle and aunt on their Itchen Ferry. I became a beneficiary of the kindness that typifies the OGA, being lent boats to skipper from the age of 16. These range from a GRP Corribee to workboats and then ‘Dirty Girty’ for which I am best known. I now sail with my wife on our own smack on the east coast and tow ‘Girty’ across country to meet and race with other areas.
Carey Stephenson
I have been an OGA member for over 15 years now, joining to sail in company with fellow Vertue owners on the East Coast so it’s about time to give back and help out by being a member of the committee. There is a wealth of knowledge within the organisation which is happily shared. I look forward to learning more and getting a greater understanding of the current tech. world.
Ken Crudgington
I joined the OGA in 2007 after meeting Rob Williamson at a Vertue owner’s rally. Although we only have three corners on our mainsail we feel warmly welcomed into the Association. I started sailing in dinghies and worked my way through the various levels and have now graduated to slightly bigger boats. Since retiring from teaching, we have bought a little lugsail dinghy which we can tow to some of the small boat events. I joined the committee in 2022 and look forward to helping organise future events.
Nick Phillips
My boats have been getting smaller in recent years - currently sailing dinghies including borrowing one of the excellent East Coast Gafflings from time to time. I learnt to sail on the River Medway, when there was still an oil refinery there, in a club boasting many boatbuilders and traditional boats. I find the mud and shoals of our East Coast cruising ground to be perfect!