The Trailer Section and Small Boats – a short history

 

In 1997, Pete and Sue Farrer organised a small boat event in the Lake District, different from other OGA events, as boats would need to be trailed.  The venue of choice was Derwentwater Marina.  Every OGA member with a boat under 21 feet received a personal invitation from Sue and Pete.  Fourteen positive responses led to the Derwentwater rally in September 1997.

The rally was successful and ran for ten years.  The early participants formed the Trailer Section, though it didn’t become fully recognised until later.

A national rally was organised at Ullswater to celebrate the OGA’s 40^th anniversary in 2003.  The North Wales 2003 AGM was to prove pivotable.  George Jago, the Association’s President was present when the proposal for a Trailer Section to be established was tabled.  To unanimous agreement, the Trailer Section became a step closer to being realised.  At the OGA’s 2004 AGM, George proposed that a Trailer Section be formed with Mike and Marlene Stevens to run it.  The motion was passed.  George’s advice was ‘Don’t have any rules, they will just set you in concrete’.

The next ten years or so saw steady growth in the Trailer Section with rallies run at Lechlade, Ullswater, Clywedog, Dittisham, Holyhead, the Walton Backwaters, and the Norfolk Broads.  And these were just the OGA events.  Trailer Section members also attended events such as Seafair in Milford Haven and abroad in Morbihan.

Mike Stevens, on his own as Marlene had sadly died, decided to step down.  Mike and Marion Mosley took on the role in 2014.

Until Covid came along, the Trailer Section proved to be well supported with the venues coming and going as preferences changed.  Throughout this period, the Lake District – in the form of Ullswater became a constant.

Despite the best efforts of Mike and Marion, Covid made if virtually impossible to have any meaningful programme of events, and the Gaffer’s Log shows that few if any Small Boat events took place.

At the on-line AGM on the 16^th January 2021, the Trailer Section was disbanded.  At the same time, the role of Small Boat Secretary was created and the Small Boats section established. David Bewick became the Small Boat Secretary.

It was recognised that Small Boats were becoming a growth area in the OGA.  All Areas were to be encouraged, where possible, to organise events suitable for small boats.

As well as promoting Small Boat events, David also assumed responsibility for promoting the Gafflings. 

David ran the Small Boat Section, and more areas ran Small Boat specific events.

At the 2026 AGM, David stepped back and the Small Boat Secretary’s position was filled by Mike Dixon.

There are still no ‘rules’, though the Section has to abide (more or less) by the OGA’s rules.  However, the motto “Fun afloat, fun ashore” is as valid now as it was in 1997.  Interesting to note that the 30^th anniversary is next year.

June 2026