Report by John Cheesbrough
Seven boats from Cotswolds Canal Cruising Club – the Four Cs – made it to the IWA National Festival at Cassiobury Park, Watford on the Grand Union:
Aquarigo Peter & Lesley Taylor
Cormorant II Bob & Lynn Hallam
Doinmein Martin & Sue Turner
Intrigue Polly Fothergill & Jan Thomas
Lucky B Bruce & Margaret Paul
Time Out John & Angela Cheesbrough
Wildcat Rob & Jackie Stammers + Aiden
( ditto ) Yvonne & Graham Hobbs
In all cases the journey to Watford from home moorings was in excess of a week and not without incident. One boat, Wild Kitten, had to drop out due to Wendy’s illness.
As is not uncommon at these events the club mooring was some distance from the festival site but since the weather held fine throughout the three days this was never a problem. Public attendance at the festival seemed a little disappointing due
partly to the Metropolitan Line to Watford being closed for maintenance all weekend!
Festival Moorings
The towpath moorings proved a little difficult at times, particularly as no-one seemed to have warned the cyclists that a festival was in progress!
Pimms O’Clock
Nevertheless, room was found for sitting out in the evenings in order that the 6 O’Clock G&T meeting could proceed.
Early Sunday afternoon saw all the club boats heading south into London in preparation for our next event: the Thames Cruise. This early departure proved a little embarrassing since, having entered the club for a competition, no-one was at the Awards Ceremony to hear that Four C’s had won the Offley Slack Propeller.
Members receiving our first award
The award was duly collected by Bob and Lynn (running half a mile back to fetch it) and a delayed presentation was held in the Limehouse clubhouse at the start of the next cruise.
This award is given to the cruising club with the highest percentage of boats attending the Festival.How fortunate that the rules only require boats to arrive at the event – not necessarily to stay!
Report by Bob Hallam