OGA AGM Weekend 2026 - Harwich, Essex
Join us on the East Coast for a great weekend of events
and socialising alongside the OGA AGM 2026.
OGA 2026 AGM Harwich - BOOK NOW
Friday Jan 30th - Sunday Feb 1st 2026
The 2026 Annual General Meeting is being held in the ancient town of Harwich, for many centuries a gateway port of Britain. We will look back on our sailing in 2025 and forwards to plans for 2026. We are continuing our tradition of blending the AGM with a weekend of fun, history, and catching up with fellow gaffers. And of course we will be awarding our Annual Awards and Trophies and prizes for the 2025 Photographic competition. Don't forget to submit your photographs!
But why Harwich? The tiny town of “Here-wic” (meaning military settlement) at the confluence of the Rivers Stour and Orwell has a rich maritime history. Harwich received its charter in 1238, almost 800 years ago. Much of the town as it now stands would still be recognisable to Samuel Pepys, erstwhile Chief Secretary to the Admiralty and the town’s MP from 1685-9. Harwich was the likely launch point of the pilgrim ship Mayflower and a naval dockyard from 1652 with the associated fortifications which can still be seen. It has been and remains a centre for Trinity House operations, since 1812, and a port for cargo and passengers to the Continent, since the 1860s.
Want to know more? Harwich History
Our weekend will be based around The Pier Hotel and the Harwich Town Sailing Club,
with lots of opportunities to explore the extensive history and pubs!
Scroll down for a summary of the timetable over the three days.
(Note: Times shown in the Winter Gaffers Log, on pages 53-55, have been amended below.)
At the bottom of the page you can access more details about the meals, events, activities, venues, travel options and accommodation.
And then book your tickets - it will really help the organisers prepare if you are able to book early!
Booking for the AGM Meal at The Pier will close on Saturday 17th January
Friday 30th January 2026
During the day
Arrive, settle in
and explore
1800 onwards - Meet, Greet, Drinks and Dinner
The Alma Inn
An informal welcome in the bar of the historical Alma Inn.
And for those that want it, dinner is available all evening at
their restaurant next door
Dinner at Lambards Salt House, next to The Alma
Booking required.
Saturday 31st January 2026
There are organised activities around the AGM during the day which you may choose to attend. Or there is plenty of time and information available to explore by yourself.
(Slideshow images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
0930-1045 Harwich Tours
Choice of 3, Booking required.
Click for more detail
1. Historic Harwich
2. Radio 'Mi Amigo' Lightship LV18
3. RNLI Station and Lifeboat
1100-1215 Harwich Tours
Choice of 3, Booking required.
Click for more detail
1. Historic Harwich
2. Radio 'Mi Amigo' Lightship LV18
3. RNLI Station and Lifeboat
1300 Informal Drinks
Harwich Town Sailing Club
1430 OGA Annual General Meeting 2026
Harwich Town Sailing Club AND Zoom link (published January 2026)
During the AGM there will be a short talk from a senior Harwich pilot.
It would be very helpful if you indicate your
attendance on the booking form
1630ish OGA Annual Prize-Giving and
Photograph Competition
Harwich Town Sailing Club
Followed by informal Drinks until 1800
1800 for 1830 Dinner
The Pier Hotel
Booking required.
Click for more detail.
2030 Music, Drinks and Socialising
Harwich Town Sailing Club
Black Deep Shanty Crew and Sing-Along, Claudia Myatt and Celtic harp
Click for more detail.
Sunday 1st February 2026
Come together on D-Day Landing Barge Kitchen LBK6 at Harwich & Dovercourt Sailing Club
Landing Barge Kitchen LBK6
1030-1145 'Sketchbook Sailor' Talk by Claudia Myatt
Booking Requested.
Click for more detail.
Onboard D-Day Landing Barge Kitchen LBK 6
Harwich & Dovercourt Sailing Club
1130 Drinks and 'Farewell' Lunch (at 1200)
Onboard D-Day Landing Barge Kitchen LBK 6
Harwich & Dovercourt Sailing Club
A light buffet lunch and a bar.
There is no charge for this lunch,
and it would be very helpful if you indicate your
attendance on the booking form
Travel and Accommodation
Click on the image to expand.
Click on this link to open Google Maps.
Harwich is easily reached by train from London via Manningtree. The Harwich branch line from there passes through Mistley.
There are many hotels and AirBnB in the area.
Activities
There are organised activities which we hope will entertain you and provide an opportunity to learn a little about Harwich.
A guided walk around many of Harwich's historical buildings and locations, a tour of Lightship LV18, now operating as a radio station, and a tour of the RNLI Lifeboat Station and Severn class lifeboat (if its not out on a call!).
Map, Meetings and Meals
Click on the image to expand.
Click on this link to open Google Maps.
As well as the AGM and Prizegiving on Saturday afternoon there are 'organised' meals and social events.
Everything is in easy walking distance of each other and of the Harwich Town rail station.
Read more about the details and venues.
Contact Us
If you have a query please contact the organisers using this form. Raise your query here
Image Attribution for this page:
- Harwich Aerial: John D Fielding CC BY 2.0 (Unmodified)
- Alma Inn: Benjamin Herman, https://maps.google.com/maps/contrib/117623545338756964957
- Electric Palace Theatre: The Electric Palace cinema, Harwich by Chris Holifield, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
- LBK6: Combined Ops https://www.combinedops.com/HMLBK_6.htm