The first boat to reach Cowes was OGA President, East Coast member Mike Beckett, skipper of ‘Bonita’, celebrating her 135th anniversary this year. Having set out at 0400 she then sailed overnight from Ramsgate on Monday 1, May to reach Cowes on Tuesday afternoon. ‘Cygnet of London’ and ‘Onward of Ito’ enjoyed an excellent sail past Beachy Head and the white chalk cliffs of Seven Sisters. There were even dolphins playing under the bowsprits off Brighton. They arrived in Cowes on Friday along with ‘Barbarossa’ and ‘Lahloo’. ‘Mutual Friend’, having sailed to Gosport from Brighton has continued westward and is staying in Poole.
![](https://www.eastcoastgaffers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/mutual-friend-jgcowes-may5-1024x707.jpg)
![](https://www.eastcoastgaffers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/lahloo-beachyhead-ricks-2.jpeg)
![](https://www.eastcoastgaffers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/onward-luke-gosport-may-2-e1687964041720-1024x987.jpeg)
![](https://www.eastcoastgaffers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/RBailey-Dover1may.jpeg)
Follow the fleet’s progress on the ‘Sailing by’ blog and OGA Instagram feed.
East Coast boats participating in OGA60 Round Britain Cruise
‘Bonita’, built 1888, 35’ gaff yawl, home port Harty Ferry
‘Lahloo’, built 2012, 26’ gaff cutter, home port West Mersea
‘Mutual Friend’, built 1983, gaff cutter, home port West Mersea
‘Cygnet of London’, built 1906, 40’ gaff yawl, home port Fambridge
‘Onward of Ito’, built 1923, gaff cutter, home port Greenwich
‘Barbarossa’, built 1976, 49’ gaff ketch, home port Benfleet
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