You could see narrow boats at this year’s CWM FX London International Boat Show but only if you went outside the ExCel exhibition centre and walked along to the far end of the Royal Victoria Dock.
St. Pancras Cruising Club again made their traditional annual cruise to the show from their headquarters on London’s Regents Canal. Locking out into the Thames Tideway through City Mill and Three Mills locks from about one o’clock on Thursday 8 January and travelling via the mouth of Bow Creek and down to the Thames Barrier.
The five boats taking part entered the dock system through King George V Lock during the mid-afternoon and stayed in the Royal Victoria Dock for the weekend; although when we saw them on the Saturday morning they had to change moorings because the water level was being lowered due to construction work.
Commodore Andrew Phasey told us that the staff of the Royal Docks was always very helpful to the crews on these cruises. The five boats planned to make the return trip to the club on the afternoon of Monday 12 January.
But if you were looking for narrowboats amongst the hundreds of boats inside the London International Boat you would have be disappointed because there were none. The inland waterways situation was somewhat redeemed by more Broads’ companies exhibiting wide beam cruisers for sale and hire and generally promoting holidays on the East Anglian network this year. And it was good to see Hoseasons Holidays back at the show, albeit with a very small stand, with at least some holiday information on the rest of the waterways. Waterway books could be found on the stands of publishers Adlard Coles Nautical and Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson and mooring information on the Yacht Harbours Association’s ‘Which Marina’ display.
But apart from the efforts of the Inland Waterways Association yet again, when are we going to return to at least having a stand at London providing navigation information on Britain’s rivers and canals for both the private boater and the holidaymaker?
Thanks to Harry Arnold and Waterway Images for this report and image.
