2 minute read
From the Region Chair
There has been a flurry of IWA supported activity at Shardlow since the last edition of Aegre, but sadly IWA are not sufficiently supported in the area to ensure our future viability in Derbyshire. Before Covid struck, our Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire (N&D) Branch held a series of social evenings at The Clock Warehouse, all with a very satisfactory turn out, but it was all organized by just one member acting as Branch Chairman. Despite all the potential future Shardlow based activities, and the excellent Clock Warehouse venue, it is now doubtful that IWA will continue to function there.
If any N&D member has any suggestions for the future of this branch, (which incidentally has nearly 400 members!), please contact me without delay.
En-route to the Shardlow festival aboard Rhoda Ellen (RE), the oil pump, deep inside the engine, failed, leaving us stranded at Kegworth. Fortunately the crew on Omega, a much smaller narrowboat (but one with a big heart!), breasted up to us and delivered us to Redhill Marina.
Whilst we fixed the engine we took the opportunity to have RE slipped and pressure washed, new anodes fitted and the hull blacked. Redhill Marina has developed hugely since 2009 when we last spent any time there for the National Waterways Festival.
I counted at least four additional boat building/boat servicing companies in addition to routine Marina services. The rise in popularity of wide-beam boats has given the marina a whole lot of new opportunities, in particular as a site for boat surveys. We were therefore rather flattered when RE was lifted out on the fabulous 70 tonne capacity “Travel Lift”. Picture right.
Rhoda Ellen looked a mere toy as she was plucked from the water and placed, ever so gently, on sleepers for the hull work to commence!
In the five weeks we were at Redhill I estimate that around four wide-beam boats per week were lifted and returned to the water, so all-in-all a superb facility for East Midlands boaters, and well done to Redhill Marina for investing in such a useful piece of kit.
Without further drama, RE is now safely back at her home mooring at Sileby!
We were lucky with our breakdown, but if it had happened out on the mighty River Trent things could have been “quite tricky” (an understatement to say the least!). I am, therefore, pleased to report that a recently recruited IWA member, who by chance is a retired master mariner, is actively pursuing options to improve navigational safety on the Trent, and particularly on the tidal sections.
An increasing number of boaters with little or no river or tidal experience are venturing “up north” to escape the crowded southern waterways and CRT are either oblivious and/or frightened to tackle the issue. So watch this space! The Lincolnshire Branch AGM in February will be a forum for discussing improved safety and boater co-operation with other boaters and boat clubs.
That’s all for now. Let’s hope we have some colder weather this winter and hopefully the dreaded Azolla, Duckweed and Pennywort will have diminished before Spring 2022.
