Category Archives: boats

Sailing Club Revamps Website

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I had a message from Paul at Abbey Sailing Club, in Wilsham Road in Abingdon.

The club have recently revamped their website. It is at https://www.abbeysailingclub.co.uk/.

They are a small and very friendly club, and although primarily focused on sailing, they also have members who enjoy paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, open water swimming or just picnicking and socialising at their clubhouse on the banks of the River Thames in South Abingdon.

They welcome new members all year around. Their easy to navigate website has photos and videos of sailing activities, to help give a feel of what our club has to offer members.

(The pictures here are ones I took in 2019 when the Sailing Club had a ‘Have a Go day’)

A walk by Abingdon Lock

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These discoveries on the walk round by Abingdon Lock may be old news to some, but here they are anyway …

On Wednesday, November 27th, a narrowboat broke free and sank near Abingdon Lock. The vessel remains submerged against the weir wall, its hull held in place by the river current and ropes.

The boat owner and their dog are safe. A large tree branch is entangled behind the boat as the river flows around and through it.

I did hear that the lock keeper provided temporary shelter in the lock house until alternative arrangements could be made for the boat owner.

In an update, the lock keeper has written on a board that insurance and recovery companies  must wait for the river flow to subside significantly before removing the boat.

Apart from what must be a sad episode for the boat owner, there was a beautiful winter sunset this evening at the lock.

A second discovery on the walk was the opening of the new Sushi takeaway on Bridge Street.

Wilsham Road lower walkway closed with a gate

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Abbey Fish Ponds - August 2021
The VOWHDC have blocked off access, with locked gates, along the lower walkway past the boats on Wilsham Road.
Abbey Fish Ponds - August 2021
A sign says its called the Wilsham Road Wharf.

This does benefit the boat owners who can use this walkway / wharf.

Jeff wrote to me saying ‘It has been used by the public at large for more years than I can remember (40+) and that probably means that it has acquired a Public Right of Way by default – well that’s what I read on the Rambles Association web site.’

Kingfisher Canoe Club activities have restarted

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The Kingfisher Canoe Club started regular activities from their new club house about three weeks ago, and there were colourful canoes out on the River Thames this evening.

On Tuesday and Thursday evenings the club have beginner sessions. On Wednesday, and at other ad-hoc times, there are outings for club members.

Planning permission for the new club store / changing facility at Abingdon Lock was gained in 2019 and a Sport England grant of £36,000 and other grants paid for the facility. A lease for the land was granted by the Environment Agency. The easing of lockdown restrictions has allowed activities to restart.