Latest TOA News:

  • We have now completed our 2024 meetings at Hickling, Falmouth, Chichester Harbour, the Thames, Waldringfield and Coniston. Details of the 2025 meetings programme will be added to the Meetings page as they are agreed with more details for members on the Meetings Detail page.

  • The TOA will have a stand at the 2025 RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show at Farnborough International on 22-23 February 2025.

  • Members can now find the minutes of the 2024 AGM and the officers’ reports on the notices page in the members section.

  • The password for the members’ pages changed on 3rd May 2024 - the new password is in the Spring 2024 newsletter (page 2)

  • The Autumn 2024 newsletter has now been posted and the digital version is available via the newsletters page in the Members section. The deadline for the New Year newsletter is 15th December 2024.

    updated: 12/11/24

The Tideway

A classic 12’ dinghy in Wood or GRP with an active and friendly owners’ association

About the Tideway

Built originally of mahogany on oak by L H Walker of Leigh-on-Sea in Essex in the 1950’s the gunter-rigged Tideway provokes interest and admiring looks wherever sailed.  Originally conceived as a “Family Cruising” dinghy this traditional “Swallows & Amazons” style boat is now more usually sailed  with a crew of 2 or single handed. The boat continues to be built today both in traditional wood and wood trimmed GRP.

The Tideway is ideal to trail and sail as most boats are Gunter rigged allowing all spars to store within the boat. It can be rowed, will take a small outboard and will give you many happy hours on the water.

You can read more about the Tideway here and about why owners think the Tideway is the right boat for them here.

The Tideway Owners’ Association

The Tideway Owners’ Association was formed in 1963 to further the enjoyment of this classic 12’ dinghy. Owners of around half the Tideways ever built are members of the TOA, making it one of the most successful traditional sailing dinghy classes in the country. The association also welcomes owners of Tideway 10s and 14s.  

Annual membership of the TOA offers excellent value at £12 and provides 3 quality printed newsletters each year; weekend and day meetings around the country, an annual race meeting for single and double handed crews;  a list of boats for sale and advice on technical matters.

You can find information about future meetings on the meeting page and in the TOA Information section of this website details of how to join and the class and association history and rules.

Acquiring a Tideway

You can obtain a new Tideway constructed with a GRP hull and an extensive mahogany fit out, giving a boat which requires little maintenance but with a traditional look or in traditional copper riveted clinker. Contact the boat builders below to get further information and current prices. 

Tideway Dinghies the current builder of GRP Tideways under owner Mari Riva and based at the East coast boatyard of A. Riva and Son Shipwrights Ltd, well established classic yacht restorers. Link To Tideway Dinghies Website

Good Wood Boat Company the current builder of Mahogany on Oak clinker Tideways.  Owned by Stephen Beresford,  Good Wood hand crafts wooden boats in Cockermouth in the Lake District using responsibly managed and ethically sourced timber. Link to Good Wood Boat Co Website

If you would prefer a second hand boat, The Tideway Owners’ Association maintains a list of boats for sale