2022, SPRING /SUMMER
With Covid restrictions no being lifted the 4Cs could now go back out cruising together with plans that have been waiting a couple of years. Double celebration as this year is the 10th Anniversary of the 4Cs being formed.
LITTLE VENICE FESTIVAL
A great event, celebrating boating in London, which was returning after an absence. Being the weekend before the Tideway cruise, it was attended by several 4Cs boats.
Participating boats & crews:
Clara Grace Hil & Ric Whitby
Cormorant 2 Lynn & Bob Hallam
Elemiah Mo Waghorn & Tony Little
THAMES TIDEWAY
Joining the Flotilla organised by the St Pancras Cruising Club, we cruised from Limehouse Lock onto the tidal Thames, through the iconic sights of London and onto Teddington Lock and passing onto the non-tidal Thames.
Participating boats & crews:
Clara Grace Hil & Ric Whitby
Cormorant 2 Lynn & Bob Hallam
The Great Escape Mo & Mike Wood
Minimum Momentum ’Minimo’ Beryl & Geoff Smith
Elemiah Mo Waghorn & Tony Little
Jasmine Linda McWatt & David Lee
Dabbling Jan & Ged Bird
BASINGSTOKE CANAL
Situated off the River Thames, via a short passage on the River Wey, it is canal not on the cruising plans of many boaters. Where there is a challenging waterway the 4Cs will be there to cruise it.
Participating boats & crews:
Clara Grace Hil & Ric Whitby
Peru Ruth Barker & Peter Powell
Cormorant 2 Lynn & Bob Hallam
The Great Escape Mo & Mike Wood
Minimum Momentum ’Minimo’ Beryl & Geoff Smith
Elemiah Mo Waghorn & Tony Little
Now Then Chris Lucas & Mel Bann
Dabbling Jan & Ged Bird
LECHLADE – 10th ANNIVERSARY
To conclude this year’s cruise, in the 4Cs anniversary of its formation, we headed to Lechlade. As well as being the recognised navigable head of the River Thames, it was where the 4Cs formed 10 years ago, so was a fitting location for celebrations.
Participating boats & crews:
Clara Grace Hil & Ric Whitby
Cormorant 2 Lynn & Bob Hallam
The Great Escape Mo & Mike Wood
Minimum Momentum ’Minimo’ Beryl & Geoff Smith
Elemiah Mo Waghorn & Tony Little
Now Then Chris Lucas & Mel Bann
Dabbling Jan & Ged Bird
Participating members, unfortunately not boating on the day:
- Wendy & Andrew Dyke
- Jan Thomas
- Sue Campbell
- Neil Fothergill (Apologies from Pol, due to illness)
2021, SPRING /SUMMER /AUTUMN
Unfortunately, yet again, the dreaded virus put paid to any formal cruises, including again the Thames Tideway and Basingstoke Canal cruises.
As restrictions were removed 4Cs members did go out on their boats for more extensive cruising. The Webmasters Apprentice has received and collated information from Members and a general ‘Cruise Report’ has been published Click here for Cruise Report.
In addition to the ‘General’ report, there are detailed reports for the following cruises: –
- Liverpool by ‘The Great Escape’, with Mo & Mike Wood, and ‘Dabbling’, with Jan & Ged Bird Click here for Cruise Report
- Chester, Manchester Ship Canal & River Weaver by ‘The Great Escape’ with Mo & Mike Wood, ‘Cormorant 2’ with Lynn & Bob Hallam, ‘Sacre Bleu’ with new members Janet Dalgliesh & David Harle and ‘Dabbling’, with Jan & Ged Bird Click here for Cruise Report
2020, SPRING /SUMMER /AUTUMN
Unfortunately, the dreaded virus put paid to any formal cruises. This meant the Thames Tideway and Basingstoke Canal cruises were postponed.
4Cs members did go out on their boats as restrictions allowed, but the extent of cruising was generally curtailed in time and distance.
2019, SUMMER
BCN EXPLORER CRUISE
This was a cruise organised by the Birmingham Canals Navigation Society, with several 4C’s boats taking part. Cruise developed to take in waterways and locations that are not usually on boaters itinerary.
Participating boats & crews:
Doinmein Sue & Martin Turner
Aquarigo 2 Lesly & Peter Taylor
Indecision Sally & Rich Gleed
The Great Escape Mo & Mike Wood
Dabbling Jan & Ged Bird
STRATFORD RIVER FESTIVAL
Another successful return for the 4Cs to this fabulous event in a great location on the River Avon. a great weekend at the popular Festival and strong turnout of 4Cs boats.
Participating boats & crews:
Doinmein Sue & Martin Turner
Clara Grace Hil & Ric Whitby
Cormoront II Lynn & Bob Hallam
Aquarigo 2 Lesly & Peter Taylor
Indecision Sally & Rich Gleed
NowThen Chris Lucas & Mel Bann
The Great Escape Mo & Mike Wood
Dabbling Jan & Ged Bird
Corriander Chelly & Royston Button
EVESHAM FESTIVAL
From Stratford we cruised to Evesham for their Festival on the next Saturday. Again, another good day and good turnout and participation with the Disney theme for dressing of boats and crew(??).
Participating boats & crews:
Doinmein Sue & Martin Turner
Aquarigo 2 Lesly & Peter Taylor
Lucky B Margaret & Bruce Paul
Indecision Sally & Rich Gleed
NowThen Chris Lucas & Mel Bann
The Great Escape Mo & Mike Wood
Dabbling Jan & Ged Bird
Corriander Chelly & Royston Button
2019, SPRING
MONMOUTHSHIRE & BRECON
This was a cruise with a difference for the 4Cs as the Mon & Brec is not connected to the national network, so not being able to use members own boats they had to hire.
Participating crews:
Sue & Martin Turner
Margaret & Bruce Paul
Mo & Mike Wood
Chris Lucas & Mel Bann
Jan & Phillip Thomas
Hil & Ric Whitby
2018, SUMMER
THE WASH
One of the epic cruises to do as a group. Leaving the River Withan at Boston in Lincolnshire, sailing out to sea and beaching on a sandbank. After leisure time on the sands the floatila then refloated to sail to the River Nene and onto Wisbech in Cambridgeshire.
Participating boats & crews:
Cormoront II Lynn & Bob Hallam
Clara Grace Hil & Ric Whitby
Elemiah Mo Waghorn & Tony Little
Dabbling Jan & Ged Bird
The Great Escape Mo & Mike Wood
Yorkshire Bourne Denise & Steve Harrison
Click here for Planning Report
THE MIDDLE LEVELS & GREAT OUSE
After sailing in from the Wash cruise, progressed up the River Nene to Peterborough, then dropping down onto the Middle Levels and then across to the Great Ouse and attending the bi-annual River Festival in Bedford.
Participating boats & crews:
Cormoront II Robin Hallam & Girlfriend
Clara Grace Hil & Ric Whitby
Unique Lynne & Roger Mellors
Elemiah Mo Waghorn & Tony Little
Dabbling Jan & Ged Bird
The Great Escape Mo & Mike Wood
THE NORTHERN CRUISE RELOCATED (!)
An impromptu cruise due to the demise of the Macclesfield & Caldon cruise. It only involved two of the 4Cs boats, but that was enough for a cruise, and they spent a good weekend at the Stratford River Festival.
Participating boats & crews:
Doinmein Sue & Martin Turner
Indecision Sally & Rich Gleed
2017, SUMMER
CHESTERFIELD CANAL
Accessed only from the River Trent, the Chesterfield is a canal with a restoration project to return to the town that gives the navigation its name. Beforehand, there was a diversion off the Trent onto the Fossdyke to Lincoln and then the Witham to Boston.
Participating boats & crews:
Doinmein Sue & Martin Turner
Lucky B Margaret & Bruce Paul
Aquarigo 2 Lesly & Peter Taylor
Indecision Sally & Rich Gleed
The Great Escape Mo & Mike Wood
NowThen Chris Lucas & Mel Bann
Minimo Beryl & Geoff Smith
Clara Grace Hil & Ric Whitby
Kiehtan Ruth Barker & Peter Powell
Hire Boat Wendy & Andrew Dyke
2017, SPRING
GLOUCESTER TALL SHIPS AND GLOUCESTER & SHARPNESS CANAL
A cruise to take in the late May Bank Holiday to the bi-annual Tall Ships Festival, a spectacular event around the docks. While in the docks, there was a walk to nearby Olney Island to visit the Hereford & Gloucester Restoration project. After the Festival, we then cruised along the G&S mooring at Saul Junction to visit to view the Cotswold Canals Trust restoration, then onto the historic Purton Hulks on the banks of the River Severn and then the canal end, finishing with Sunday roast dinner at Sharpness Dockers Club.
Participating boats & crews:
Doinmein Sue & Martin Turner
Lucky B Margaret & Bruce Paul
Dabbling Jan & Ged Bird
Indecision Sally & Rich Gleed
Cormoront II Lynn & Bob Hallam
NowThen Chris Lucas & Mel Bann
Minimo Beryl & Geoff Smith
Other visitors in the week included Pol & Neil Fothergill, Jan Thomas and Sue Campbell.
2016, SUMMER
SEVERN & AVON RIVERS CRUISE
A cruise down the River Severn from Stourport to Tewksbury, then passing up onto the River Avon and cruising up to Stratford-upon-Avon for the renowned River Festival.
Participating boats & crews:
Doinmein Sue & Martin Turner
Lucky B Margaret & Bruce Paul
Aquarigo 2 Lesley & Peter Taylor
Indecision Sally & Rich Gleed
Lord Toulouse Wendy & Andrew Dyke
Aird-an-lar Gordon & Samantha Harrower
Lamprey Mike Paisey
Albion Mike Whiteman
The detailed cruise Reports have been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
SOUTH EAST CRUISE
A cruise on the Thames and its southerly waterway of the Rivers Wey & Arun. Taking in Lechlade, at the navigation head, the cruise was the length of the Thames to London, leaving the River at Limehouse Basin to join the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park opening cruise.
Participating boats & crews:
Cormorant II Lynn & Bob Hallam
The Great Escape Mo & Mike Wood
The detailed cruise Reports have been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
2015, SUMMER
BCN EXPLORER
A cruise of the extensive historic and extensive canals network to the north of Birmingham. Highlights included Netherton & Gosty Hill tunnels, Black Country Museum, Mad O’Rourke’s Pie Factory, Bradley Workshops, Walsall Town Basin, the “Curley Wyrley” canal, Longwood Boat Club Rally and many more.
Participating boats & crews:
Cormorant II Lynn & Bob Hallam
Lucky B Margaret & Bruce Paul
Aquarigo 2 Lesley & Peter Taylor
Doinmein Sue & Martin Turner
Clara Grace Hilary & Ric Whitby
Minimo Beryl & Geoff Smith
Intrigue Polly and Neil Fothergill
Dawn Owl Jayne & Mike Provost
Dream Catcher
The detailed cruise Report and Photo Gallery have been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
CALDON CANAL
An excursion off the Trent & Mersey, this is a varied and wonderful canal with two termini. The boats joined from the Trent & Mersey at Etruria and cruised to all meet at Hazelhurst Junction. From here on to explore the branch to Leek, then back to the junction and along the other branch to Consall Forge and Frogall at the end.
Participating boats & crews:
Joie de Vivre Joyce Taylor & Jim Hanks
Cormorant II Lynn & Bob Hallam
Unique Lin & Roger Mellor
Lucky B Margaret & Bruce Paul
Aquarigo 2 Lesley & Peter Taylor
Doinmein Sue & Martin Turner
The detailed cruise Report and Photo Gallery have been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
LANCASTER CANAL
Starting with the challenge of cruising across the River Ribble and through the Linkway, the reward is a lock-free canal (if you don’t count the Glasson Branch). However, the timescale of the cruise was extended due to circumstances beyond the 4Cs control !! There was a culvert breach on the Rufford Branch of the Leeds, which is the only route back to the inland waterways network, that took 6 weeks to repair and restore passage.
Participating boats & crews:
Elemiah Mo Waghorn & Tony Little
Cormorant II Lynn & Bob Hallam
The Great Escape Mo & Mike Wood
Clara Grace Hilary & Ric Whitby
Minimo Beryl & Geoff Smith
The detailed cruise Report and Photo Gallery have been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
2014, SUMMER
PLANNING FOR A LONG SUMMER .
The Cotswolds Canal Cruising Club will be headed both to the North West and to the East this summer. A lot of effort was put in organise such a busy and varied season of cruising.
The detailed planning Report has been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
IWA CAMPAIGN FESTIVAL, CHESTER
An major event to start a busy summer for the 4Cs with the IWA campaign cruise in Chester. The object of the local Branch of the IWA and object of the Festival, is to promote the use of the neglected Dee Branch of the Shropshire Union canal as a step toward the eventual new lock connection to part of the River Dee.
Participating boats & crews:
Aquarigo 2 Lesley & Peter Taylor
Cormorant II Lynn & Bob Hallam
Lucky B Margaret & Bruce Paul
Time Out Angela & John Cheesbrough + Jan Thomas
Minimo Beryl & Geoff Smith
Doinmein Sue & Martin Turner + Polly Fothergill
Jigsaw Marilyn and Ged Layfield
Intrigue Polly Fothergill and Jan Thomas
The detailed cruise Report and Photo Gallery have been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
RIVER MERSEY CROSSING
An epic cruise taking 4Cs narrowboats out onto a major river estuary to reach the maritime city of Liverpool.
Participating boats & crews:
Aquarigo 2 Lesley & Peter Taylor
Cormorant II Lynn & Bob Hallam
Lucky B Margaret & Bruce Paul
Time Out Angela & John Cheesbrough + Jan Thomas
Minimo Beryl & Geoff Smith
Doinmein Sue & Martin Turner + Polly Fothergill
Jigsaw Marilyn and Ged Layfield
The detailed cruise Report and Photo Gallery have been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
YORK & RIPON
This cruise was not planned, but just happened in the transfer from the Mersey Crossing to The Wash.
Participating boats & crews:
Aquarigo 2 Lesley & Peter Taylor
Cormorant II Lynn & Bob Hallam
Lucky B Margaret & Bruce Paul
Time Out Angela & John Cheesbrough
The detailed cruise Report and Photo Gallery have been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
THE WASH CROSSING
An epic cruise taking narrowboats out to sea and beaching on a sandbank for a few hours of fun and games.
Participating boats & crews:
Aquarigo 2 Lesley & Peter Taylor
Cormorant II Lynn & Bob Hallam
Fizzical Attraction Yvonne & Roger Olver
Joie de Vivre Joyce Taylor & Jim Hanks
Lucky B Margaret & Bruce Paul
Unique Lynne & Roger Mellors
Vagabond Nicola & Bob Atkins
Time Out Angela & John Cheesbrough
The detailed cruise Report and Photo Gallery have been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
ROBERT AIKMAN CHALLENGE TROPHY
Lynn and Bob Hallam of NB “Cormorant II set out to complete the most meritorious and enterprising non-continuous journey to the IWA pageant, from 2013 location of Watford to this year’s location of Saul Junction on G&S – just about 300 yards from their home-mooring!!!!
The detailed Report has been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
2013, SUMMER
RIVER WEAVER
Having spent the weekend at the Middlewich ‘Folk and Boat’ Festival. Some boats of the 4Cs travelled to the historic canal feature of the Anderton Boat Lift, which transferred them down onto the wonderful River Weaver.
Participating boats & crews:
Cormorant II : Bob & Lynn Hallam
Lord Toulouse: Andrew & Wendy Dyche
Great Escape: Mike & Mo Wood
Time Out: John & Angela Cheesbrough
The detailed cruise Report and Photo Gallery have been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
IWA CAMPAIGN FESTIVAL, WATFORD
A meeting of the 4Cs at this event on the Grand Union canal. The Club was awarded the Offley Slack Propeller for the cruising club with the highest percentage of boats attending the Festival.
Participating boats & crews:
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
The detailed cruise Report and Photo Gallery have been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
THAMES TIDEWAY & UPPER THAMES
Following on from the IWA Festival at Watford, a cruise down the busy and historic river through London. This cruise was made possible with the kind assistance of the St Pancras Cruising Club. Leaving Limehouse Basin the boats sailed east out through the Barrier, then on the turn of the tide headed back west to Teddington Lock.
Participating boats & crews:
Limehouse – Thames Barrier – Lechlade:
Cormorant II : Bob & Lynn Hallam (Jan Thomas for Barrier)
Jigsaw : Ged & Marilyn Layfield
Lucky B: Bruce & Margaret Paul
Time Out: John & Angela Cheesbrough
Wildcat: David Beamont, Fran Pomerand (for Barrier)
Crew: Jan Thomas,
Crew Rob & Jackie Stammers
Crew Graham & Yvonne Hobbs.
Limehouse – Thames Barrier – Oxford:
Aquarigo 2: Peter & Lesley Taylor
Brentford – Oxford:
Doinmein: Martin & Sue Turner
Brentford – Lechlade:
Intrigue: Neil & Polly Fothergill
The detailed Cruise Report and Photo Gallery have been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster
2012, SUMMER
INAUGURAL CRUISE
Cruising down from Braunston on the Grand Union Canal the 4Cs progressed through the Midlands to sail the newly restored Droitwich Canal and then on to the Severn and return to Gloucester.
Participating boats & crews:
Cormorant II Lynn & Bob Hallam
Intrigue Polly Fothergill & Jan Thomas
Joie de Vivre Joyce Taylor & Jim Hanks
Time Out Angela & John Cheesbrough
Wildcat Wendy Beaumont with Jackie & Robin Stammers,
Yvonne and Graham joined “Wildcat” later.
The detailed Cruise Report and Photo Gallery have been archived, but should you require a copy please email the Webmaster at 4cswebmaster@gmail.com – Click here for Webmaster