From The Vice Chairman Page 3 Essex Waterways Update

Essex Waterways Update

The end of July and beginning of August saw a two week Waterway Recovery Group Canal Camp working on repairing the wing walls of Stonhams weir. The Essex Waterways team were already on site carrying out piling along the bottom of the weir to protect both the wing walls and the weir slope from further under-scouring. Unfortunately during the work we suffered a break-in to one of our workboats with the loss of tools.

On completion of the work at Stonhams the team concentrated upon weed boat operation and tow path cutting during what is a busy time of year with customers and visitors to the Navigation.

Essex Waterways Update (cont)

Among the interesting boats that visited Heybridge Basin were several expensive motor cruisers and the sailing yacht ‘Bonaventure of Salcombe’ which featured in the TV series ‘Britain by Boat’ with Michael Buerk and John Sargeant sailing around the British Coast. Built in 2012 and Bermudian rigged, the yacht is 42ft on the waterline and 64ft overall.

Our volunteer operated trip boats ‘Albert’ and ‘Blackwater Dawn’ have been very busy during the summer. I must thank all our volunteer skippers and crew who have made these such a success while providing an enjoyable waterway experience for so many visitors.

Unfortunately it was not possible to operate the Chelmsford trip boat this year as this was regularly attacked by an angry swan and then prevented from running by excessive weed growth. The Environment Agency has stopped clearing weed in the City Centre.

Roy Chandler