For June 2026, our first ‘favourite place’ in the new series (replacing ‘featured boats’) is Ramsgate, being the southernmost port in our Area. Whilst rarely visited by East Coast Gaffers, looking back there are a few memorable occasions . . . Ramsgate officially became a Heritage Harbour on Saturday 7 September, 2024, joining 12 other locations across the UK already recognised for their contribution to saving our maritime heritage. The Heritage Harbours project is supported by National Historic Ships UK, Historic England and Maritime Heritage Trust.
In 2023 the OGA60 fleet set out from Ramsgate for their Jubilee Round Britain Cruise. This video was created by East Coast member, Tarquin Wildridge, to welcome the OGA fleet of nine boats into Ramsgate as they started their challenge. Skippers and crews enjoyed an excellent weekend of socialising and sailing in Ramsgate and Sandwich, organised by OGA stalwarts, Robert and Jan Holden, who keep their beautiful classic gaff yacht ‘Emanuel’ at Sandwich. As Monday morning dawned, the fleet was gone! Tides determined an early start at 0400, so sadly, there’s no photos of the ‘grand depart’!
Three East Coast boats in the Round Britain OGA50 Challenge fleet also visited Ramsgate in 2013. On 4, August many of the circumnavigation fleet spent a party weekend there with local East Coast boats joining them on passage to the ‘big party’ in Cowes.
2025 marked 85 years since Operation Dynamo, when a fleet of ‘little ships’ evacuated over 300,000 Allied soldiers from the beaches of France. The ADLS (Association of Dunkirk Little Ships), founded in 1965, has run an Anniversary Return to Dunkirk every five years, departing Ramsgate. It took place last year for the first time since 2015 and there were several East Coast OGA boats in the 65-strong fleet departing on 21 May, 2025.
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