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.
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.
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(??).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
Click here for Planning Report
Click here for notes on cruising the Severn
SOUTH EAST CRUISE
A cruise on the Thames, around London and its southerly waterways of the Rivers Wey & Arun.
2015, SUMMER
BCN EXPLORER
A cruise of the extensive historic and extensive canals network to the north of Birmingham.
CALDON CANAL
An excursion off the Trent & Mersey, this is a varied and wonderful canal with two terminuii- Uttoxeter and Frogall.
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 !!
2014, SUMMER
PLANNING FOR A LONG SUMMER .
A lot of effort was put in organise such a busy and varied season of cruising.
Click here for Planning Report
IWA CAMPAIGN FESTIVAL, CHESTER
An major event to start a busy summer for the 4Cs.
RIVER MERSEY CROSSING
An epic cruise taking 4Cs narrowboats out onto a major river estuary to reach the maritime city of Liverpool.
Click here for Planning Update
YORK & RIPON
This cruise was not planned, but just happened in the transfer from the Mersey Crossing to The Wash.
THE WASH CROSSING
An epic cruise taking narrowboats out to sea and beaching on a sandbank for a few hours of fun and games.
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!!!!
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.
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.
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.
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.