CRUISING INFORMATION

The Tideway is extremely stable, not too highly powered, and easily reefed afloat and thus well suited to cruising. Cruising activities tend to fall into two types, day sailing and extended cruising. Members attention is drawn to the TOA’s adopted Health & Safety and Risk Assessment document viewable elsewhere in the Members section of this website.

GENERAL ADVICE

The Association recommends that certain basic safety items are carried for all types of cruising, as follows: –

  • Proper personal buoyancy equipment.

  • Suitable protective clothing, including hat & gloves.

  • Correct boat buoyancy.                      

  • Bailing equipment.

  • Flares (smokes & hand-held).            

  • First aid kit.

  • Spare warps & Bosuns bag

  • Emergency exposure bag.

  • Emergency rations and hot drink.             

  • Chart & compass.

  • Powerful torch.

  • Sound signal, e.g. horn.

  • Adequate anchor & warps.                

  • Oars.

Great attention should be paid to: –
a. Stowing gear in properly waterproof containers.

b. Tying all gear into the boat to prevent loss during a capsize.

c. Stowing gear in such a way that it is accessible when needed.

IF YOU ARE UNDERTAKING A JOURNEY IN TIDAL WATERS: –

  1. Be able to right and empty the dinghy in case of capsize.

  2. Know your own and your crew’s limitations as to sailing ability, seamanship and endurance.

  3. Check the prevailing and forecast weather conditions before setting out, and cancel if doubtful.

  4. Find out local tidal information and navigational hazards and take them into account when planning your journey.

  5. Before setting off make a contingency plan as to what to do if conditions worsen or the wind drops.

  6. Leave details of your plans with someone ashore who can raise the alarm if necessary. Don’t forget to inform them if you change plans, in order to avoid the alarm being raised.

FOR EXTENDED CRUISING
If an over-boom tent cover is carried, the halyards can be tied to the end of the gaff to support the boom or sometimes a topping lift or crutches are used. For sleeping on board, the usual system is to put the sole-boards (floorboards) on the front side- benches and centreboard casing and sleep on these.

For storage, some dinghies have netting bags fitted whilst some have watertight boxes beneath the centre thwart. Tideways tend to gather spray in lumpy seas, and thus it is sensible to fit or carry a good pump in addition to bucket or bailer to empty out water.

Needless to say, there are many ways of equipping your Tideway according to the type of cruising you are undertaking, and members are encouraged to let the Association know of modifications and improvements, which can be made. The Dinghy Cruising Association is well worth joining for further ideas and information if you contemplate extended cruising.

THE EXPLORER TROPHY

Presented by lan McCreery in 1986, this trophy will be awarded annually for the best account of an exploring holiday, cruise or day sail made by a TOA member in their Tideway dinghy or in a Tideway 10 or a Tideway 14 which has been published in a Newsletter in the calendar year.