Select Page

A recently cancelled sailing event I was due to take part in left us with a free weekend in the diary. Given that my wife and I were celebrating a bumper wedding anniversary and the weather forecast was for fine weather, we decided to hunt around for a last minute canal holiday.

There is a network of more than 2,000 miles of historic canals and rivers across England and Wales.  Most of the canals were built in the 18th century during the industrial revolution, well before the railways were developed. The network has a long history used primarily for the transport of heavy goods though most have now been adapted for recreational use.

Our search led us to Devizes in southern England where there was a 47 foot narrowboat named Moonraker available for three day’s hire from www.whitehorsenarrowboats.co.uk on the Kennet & Avon canal.

The Kennet & Avon canal has an overall length of 140 km and was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to form a waterway that links Bristol with London via the Rivers Avon, Kennet and Thames. Although originally the canal was designed to carry heavy goods such as coal and stone in horse drawn barges, today it is used solely for recreation after falling into decline during the early 20th century, following the introduction of railways in the 19th century.

       

A 47 foot boat might sound excessive for two people, but narrowboats are as their name implies very narrow, with the accommodation in a long pencil shaped line.

Moonraker was beautifully maintained with shiny new paintwork, varnished wood work and polished brass fittings. Down below it was very comfortable with an excellent galley complete with gas cooker, pressurised hot and cold water, fridge, plus crockery, cutlery, glassware, pots and pans. There was a good sized heads with shower, basin and WC. USB ports and a 240 volt inverter for laptops and phone chargers were also provided.

The brand new diesel engine conforms to the latest emissions standards and was very fuel efficient, using a meagre 20 litres of fuel over the three days. This impressive fuel economy is achievable by keeping the revs low and proceeding at walking speed, which prevents wash from damaging the canal banks and also prevents disturbing moored boats. One of the many joys of canal boating is that it slows you down, literally, and it doesn’t take long to feel completely relaxed. UK canals have a 4 mph speed limit so this needs to be factored in when route planning.

Rules of the road

For those used to boating in crowded harbours and inshore waters, where strict observation of collision regulations is essential, navigating on a canal is much more straightforward.  The basic rules of the road are:

  • Keep on the right of the canal when passing other boats.
  • Make sure you give on-coming boats room to pass.
  • Look out for fishermen and slow down to give them time to pull in their lines. Keep to the middle of the canal as you pass them.
  • Sound your horn when approaching a blind bend.
  • Slow down to tick over when passing moored boats.

Mooring

There are plenty of places to moor along the towpath side of a canal, for short stays or overnight. Restricted areas are clearly signed and the non towpath side of the canal is normally restricted also. You should also avoid mooring near bridges, sharp bends or angling spots.

Popular places to stop include alongside pubs and cafes. Here you will find mooring rings and bollards and a maximum stay usually of up to 24 hours.

We prefer to aim for the quieter stretches, where you simply choose a spot, slow down and head for the canal bank at a 30º angle. When you are a couple of metres away from the bank, simply straighten up and put the engine in reverse for a few seconds and you should come to a stop alongside. Once you have practised this manoeuvre a couple of times you soon get the hang of it.

Moonraker was supplied with a boarding ladder, three steel mooring pins, a lump hammer and mooring lines. To moor the boat, you step ashore using the boarding ladder and then hammer in the pins at a 45º angle and tie up with the mooring lines. Doing all this is again straightforward, but for obvious reasons you should not hammer the pins into the towpath to prevent tripping up passers by.

Turning around

On a weekend break it is likely that you will need to turn the boat around and head back to where you came from. Given that most canal boats are longer than the width of a canal, turning around is done in specially designated turning points known as winding holes. These are usually miles apart, so you need to plan ahead and keep an eye on the map. In our case we used an app called Open Canal Map which tells you where you are.

To turn around, steer the boat slowly into the widest part of the winding hole until the bow touches the bank. You then engage forward gear and the boat will slowly pivot against the bank, while keeping the tiller pointing towards the bank. Once the boat has turned sufficiently, you then engage reverse gear and head back to the opposite side. You then move back into forward gear and you should be able to steer clear. I took a couple of attempts at this but we got round in the end.

I would thoroughly recommend a narrowboat holiday on the Kennet & Avon canal for those looking for a relaxing break in the UK. We did not encounter any locks which would have added to the fun but there were a few swing bridges to contend with. We also enjoyed some fabulous walks in the Wiltshire countryside.

Sailing Boat Rig Care

The rig of a sailing boat is put under huge stresses and strains so it is important for inspections of a yacht’s spars and rigging to be carried out at regular intervals.

Anchoring – getting it right

If you can set an anchor correctly with confidence and know your boat will be safe in a secure anchorage, then you can rest in comfort and will not...

Essential yacht tender safety for skippers and crew

Essential yacht tender safety - the dangers inherent in using a dinghy to get ashore from a moored or anchored yacht are all too easily...

Steel and Aluminium Hulls

The two metals used for hull construction are steel and aluminium. These are both very strong materials and will last a long time as long as they are cared for, which primarily means protecting steel boats from rust and aluminium boats from electrolytic action.

Safety Equipment Checklist for Boats

Safety Equipment Checklist for Boats   Liferaft line attached The liferaft will not work unless the trigger line is...

2023 Rolex Fastnet Race – Part 3

This is our third and final article about the 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race. It is a first hand account by Simon Jollands who was one of the crew of Lancelot II, a Beneteau First 40 skippered by John Gillard.

Sending distress signals

In an emergency situation at sea, it is a top priority is to know how to send and receive emergency radio calls and alert others of your predicament. Likewise, if you receive a distress signal, you must be ready to go to the help of others.

Pleasure craft safety equipment recommendations

Safety equipment is an important part of boat preparation and it is advisable for all pleasure craft skippers to check their vessel is...

Winch Servicing

It is not essential to service the winches when a boat is ashore, but if time allows I prefer to do this maintenance job when the boat...

Tidal heights and the rule of twelfths

For those skippers who need to make a quick calculation or don’t have access to specific tidal curves for their location, it is possible to make an approximation using a system called the Rule of Twelfths. This is a simple method used to estimate the height of tide at any given time during the tidal cycle. It is based on the idea that the rise and fall of the tide is not constant, but follows a predictable pattern than can be divided into twelve parts.

Hull inspection – the annual checks

With the boat ashore for the winter it is time to do a hull inspection - the annual checks. Are there any scratches and chips in the...

Engine failure at sea – keeping the boat safe

If the engine stops when you are underway, or your have to shut it down when a warning buzzer sounds, you also need to make sure the boat remains safe. It’s important therefore to recognise situations in which the boat would be immediately put in danger if the engine were to fail.

The VHF DSC Radio jargon buster

AIS - Automatic Identification System This system is used by shipping. It allows another vessel or coast station to use...

Understanding tide tables and tidal curves

There are many factors that influence local tidal patterns and it’s essential for every sailor to have a good understanding of tide tables and tidal charts to ensure they can calculate the level of tide at any given time.

Boat Engine Safety Checks

  Boat Engine Safety Checks Every skipper needs to make regular essential boat engine safety checks. Below you will...

Marine engine electrical system

The typical basic electrical system associated with a marine engine includes a dedicated engine starting battery, a starter motor, a charger in the form of an alternator, a solenoid and some engine sensors and instruments.

Common medical emergencies at sea

A medical emergency aboard a boat at sea requires immediate attention to ensure the safety of the casualty and the crew in general. The skipper needs to know which crew members, if any, have had medical training or have a first aid qualification. All boats should carry first aid handbooks to help an untrained crew cope with a medical emergency.

Top 5 Reasons Why an Inflatable SUP Should Be Your Next Yacht Accessory

In this article, inflatable paddle board expert Jason Paul gives the top 5 reasons why an inflatable SUP should be your next...

Jester Challenge 2022 – Sailing single handed from Plymouth UK to the Azores: Getting to the Start

Jester Challenge – A modern experiment in old-fashioned self-reliance, self sufficiency, and personal responsibility. This is the start of a 10-part post where solo sailor, Bernie Branfield, shares his first hand account of his single-handed, 2022 Jester Challenge, from Plymouth, UK to the Azores, in his 26′ Invicta Mk2, Louisa.

Boat Engine Failure – what to check

Engine failure If your engine fails or is overheating there are a number of things to check immediately: • Air filter...

Hourly Checks when sailing or motoring

  Hourly Checks Get into the habit of carrying out these checks and both yourself, your crew and your boat will be...

How to Avoid Collisions At Sea With The ColRegs

      Every Skipper Needs Accurate Knowledge of the IRPCS ColRegs As a responsible skipper it is every skipper’s duty to learn and apply the IRPCS...

Avoiding personal dangers at sea

In order to stay safe at sea, we need to know the risks we are facing and to be aware of any personal dangers we could possibly encounter. Here are six of the most common potential dangers individual crew members should be aware of.

Wooden Hulls – Part 1

Traditional wooden boats have a plank on frame construction, a centuries old boat building method that is still in use today. Variations of the traditional method include carvel, clinker and strip planking, which all relate to the way the planking is attached to the frame.

Safety at sea principles

Safety at sea is not as simple as just spending money adding shiny new emergency equipment such as liferafts, danbuoys, distress flares, EPIRBs and so on.