The Northern Navigation News, Summer 2013, IWA North Riding Branch

The InlandWaterwaysAssociation

The

NorthernNavigation News

Newsletter of the North Riding Branch of theInland Waterways Association

Issue 9 - Summer 2013

NNN

Selby Boat Centre & Boroughbridge Marina areSelby Boat Centre & Boroughbridge Marina areSelby Boat Centre & Boroughbridge Marina areSelby Boat Centre & Boroughbridge Marina areSelby Boat Centre & Boroughbridge Marina areprprprprproud sponsors of Noroud sponsors of Noroud sponsors of Noroud sponsors of Noroud sponsors of Northern Nathern Nathern Nathern Nathern Navigavigavigavigavigation Newstion Newstion Newstion Newstion News

Michaela and Billie Jo at their refreshment van in St George’s Field, next to theRiver Ouse and Skeldergate Bridge

NORTHERN NAVIGATION NEWS -SUMMER 2013

TEMPORARY FACILITIES AT MARYGATELANDINGSA lot has changed since I last wrote an editorial. The toilet block byLendal Bridge, York has been demolished at last, awaiting theconstruction of the new restaurant. Very basic facilities have beenintroduced for boaters in the meantime and we, in the North RidingBranch (IWA) are making sure that the new facilities are as agreed in thePlanning Permission nearly five years’ ago, now. There is a temporarywaterpoint at the left hand end of the hoarding along the MarygateLanding side of the site. The rubbish facilities at Marygate Landing arenow on the BW key and are next to the waterpoint. Unfortunately, youhave a very long walk to empty your toilets in the Portaloos, which arein Museum Gardens behind the building site. The quickest way is alongJudi Dench Walk, up the cobbled hill and through the main gates ofMuseum Gardens and keeping to the left head back towards the river.

The facilities at the rear of the new restaurant will be much improved,and (we intend to keep the developer to this promise) there will be anadditional waterpoint at the bottom of Marygate by the steps and thecobbles.

FIRST OPEN DAY AT CASTLE MILLS LOCKOn Saturday 4th May we held the first Open Day of 2013 with thebroadbeam “Moonriver” cruising along the River Foss, piloted byMichael Cadoux (Chair of North Riding Branch IWA). We have openedthe lock since then, but have been hampered by low water levels in theriver itself. This is ;largely due to the problems with the EnvironmentAgency managed sluice at the rear of the lock. It is hoped that this willbe replaced with an automatic sluice later in the year.

We have operated the lock twice so far this season, and do notintend to operate it again until the next planned Open Day on

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Saturday 28th September 2013. If the water level problems persist, thenthe Open Day will be re sited at the end of Marygate with a boatcruising on the River Ouse.

Please contact the Voluntary Head Lock Keeper: Tony Martin on07588-236-597 oe e-mail [email protected] for an update.

THE NAVIGABLE RIVER FOSSIn future, when a boat owner books passage along the River Foss inYork, you will be e-mailed (or given) a map of the River Foss fromCastle Mills Lock to the Yearsley Pool. Alright, it is a map from the1880s, but it is easy to follow and will be accompanied with some ‘dosand don’ts’. According to the length and draught of your boat, you willtold how far you can progress along the River Foss. We might also insistthat one of the lock keepers accompanies you on the trip.

We have been asked for the map in the past, and have, frankly beenremiss, in not providing one earlier. As to accompanying you – thank theboaters who have occasionally travelled too far up the River Foss andupset members of the River Foss Society. Although, the public weredelighted to see the ‘first boats for a decade’, we have to be aware ofthe fragile ecology of York’s secret river, and will monitor the water levelin the upper reaches of the River Foss more closely.

Tony Martin (Editor)

RUNNING THE STICKLEBACK CAFÉThe Stickleback River Café is located on the north side of the RiverOuse near Museum Gardens, just down from Lendal Bridge. AliceGosling talks about her experience of running the café this year.

Having had no previous experience of the boating culture, when Idecided to take on the challenge of running a riverside café I had noidea what to expect. Even if I'd tried I don't think I could have foreseen theworld I now find myself engulfed in. One not only full of engine issues,leaky pumps, faulty boilers, refuelling, refilling and restocking, but alsofull of boat people. It's these people who have really made my

experience so far a brilliant adventure. If you own or are interested

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in boats you are automatically a friend,and there's such a lovely sense ofcommunity - everyone seeming sowilling to help each other out, whetherits a piece of advice, the use of a toiletfor a desperate girl, or a tug home! (Shout out to Colin for that one). Andwith the new addition of the amazing Two Hoots Icecream boat andfuture prospects for the Arts Barge it's a really exciting time to beinvolved in this growing community.

On quiet days, even though business might not be booming, I'veenjoyed chatting to all sorts of people over a cuppa. Whether it'sbusinessmen celebrating exciting deals, artists who are feeling inspiredby the river or cave dwelling hippies, everyone has such interestingstories to share and the river café provides the perfect platform todo so (when I don't have a mountain of washing up to get through).

The “Stickleback” and Alice Gosling (right)

It's been a brilliant experience so far and I really look forward to whatthe summer has to bring!

NORTH RIDING BRANCH COMMITTEE NEWSCURRENT MEMBERS:

Michael Cadoux (Chair)Tony Martin (Secretary)John Reeve (Treasurer)Keith Chapman (Press Officer)Peter HopwoodAdrian LovettRoy Shilleto

Contact: Tony Martin (Secretary): 0742-806-4863.

COMMITTEE MEETINGOn Thursday 16th May 2013 at 7.00pm at the Minster Inn, Marygate,York the last Committee Meeting of the North Riding Branch (IWA) washeld. It was well attended by members and Alison Smedley of IWA’sHead Office was visiting York. She has been touring around thebranches of the IWA over the last few months, and helping to set upWorking Parties, which are listed in Towpath Talk each month. She hasbeen a long term volunteer and officer of the IWA. Recently she hasbeen recently employed by the IWA HQ at Chesham to enable all thebranches to establish Work Parties and contact with their widercommunities, whilst building up the membership. Alison also worksclosely with the Canal and River Trust.

Alison spent half a day in York, watching Castle Mills Lock in operationwith Michael Cadoux (Chair) and Tony Martin (Chief Lock Keeper),plus volunteer lock keepers. Whilst on the Friday, Alison met theEcologist of the CRT at Pocklington Canal and then went on to visit EastYorkshire Branch. She is keen to establish close ties with the newlyformed CRT and its Volunteer Co-ordinators.

Her main pre-occupation is with the spread of Himalayan Balsam alongthe banks of the waterways , and has arranging a Working Partywith the Pocklington Canal Society, a date to be arranged in late6

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June – see www.waterways.org.uk for details. Michael said that theNorth Riding Branch would look at setting up Work Parties in 2014 (wehave since learnt that there is Himalayan Balsam along the RiponCanal.

John Reeve (Treasurer) gave a report on the Navigation Committee(IWA) and his role as a Trustee of the Teeside Watersport Centre (see hisreport ‘Our Friend in the North – below).

Tony Martin (Secretary).

DIARYA much reduced Rivers Festival starts on July 13th2013 and ends with the on 21st July. The annualDragon Boat Festival is, as usual, run by York Rotary Club and willbe held on Sunday 14th July 2013 starting at 10.00am.

A summer day on the Ouse near Lendal Bridge (Photo: Neil Ward)

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Sadly the Beverley Barge Trust will not be coming to York Look up theRivers Festival on: www.york.gov.uk/festivals.

TUESDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2013 at 11.00am Linton Lock Café –North Riding Branch (IWA) Committee Meeting. Any IWA member iswelcome to attend – phone Tony Martin on 0742-806-4863 OR [email protected]. FOR ALL DETAILS.

SUNDAY 15th SEPTEMBER 2013 on the River Tees – see the enclosedflyer for details or contact John Reeve on 01642580350 [email protected]

SATURDAY 28th SEPTEMBER 2013 End of Marygate, York. Thetraditional Open Day organised in co-operation with York OlderPeoples’ Assemblies’ 50+ Festival will be at a change of venue. Thisstarts at 10.00am and goes through to 4.00pm, with Moonriver cruisingup and down the York stretch of the River Ouse. Depending on thewater level in the River Foss being high enough and whether theconstruction of the new sluice by the Environment Agency hascommenced or not, we will be demonstrating Castle Mills Lock.

SATURDAY 28th SEPTEMBER 2013 – History Walk along the banks ofthe River Foss with the City of York’s Archaeologist, John Oxley. Meetat Monk Bar (end of Gillygate) at 2.00pm.

ELECTRONIC VERSIONS OF NORTHERNNAVIGATION NEWSIn future, any IWA member within the North Riding Branch (IWA) areawho is currently on e-mail will receive an electronic copy of NorthernNavigation News which will be sent from Tracy Higgins at IWAHeadquarters in Chesham. The default optionis that members on e-mail will receive thenewsletter electronically only, but you can optback in to receiving a paper copy bycontacting [email protected]. NNN

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SAILING WITHOUT SIGHTby Diane Roworth

Sailing and blindness are two things that most people would not puttogether in the same sentence. How can anyone who cannot see, sail aboat? Surely anyone who can’t see fully would be a liability on a boatand anyway, why would they want to go sailing? Those are views thathave been expressed to me – but not views with which I, as a visuallyimpaired person would agree with and happily, not views with whichEAST (The East Anglian Sailing Trust) concur either.

I am registered blind, but with some useful central vision. I had my firstexperience of sailing almost 16 years ago, as part of a family holiday ona flotilla in Greece. My first taste of sailing of the English coastline, wasin May this year, with EAST.

EAST offer sailing opportunities to anyone who has a visual impairment,from those with limited vision (like me) to people with no sight at all.Why? Because the members of this trust love sailing and want to sharetheir love of sailing with others, particularly people who would find itdifficult to sail without support.

Sailing may seem to be a bit of an extreme ‘sport’ for anyone with lessthan perfect vision. But it has many aspects that make it suitable forvisually impaired people. Firstly, it is a complete experience. All thesenses are used at any one time. For example, learning how to interpretwhether you are making maximum use of the wind in the sails, throughfeeling it on your body and face us quite an art! Feeling the motion ofthe boat as it travels through the water and heels over with theguardrails almost in the sea is as exciting for visually impaired as it is forsighted sailors. That’s all tactile stuff that can be enjoyed equally. A boatalso has some distinct advantages for anyone without full sight. It isrelatively small to find your way about and things don’t move, (if youare good at keeping them ship shape that is), and lots of things can bedone without needing full sight, for example tying on the fenders,pulling on ropes even taking the helm. An audible compass or anunderstanding and facilitating host, such as those on the EAST weekend

make helming achievable.

River Foss Societyformed to protect and promote enjoyment ofthe river from Pond Head (Oulston) to BlueBridge in York where it joins the River Ouse.

The inaugural meeting was held on 23 July 1973in the Folk Hall, New Earswick.Members areholding a 40th Anniversary Celebration on the

same date in 2013 and in the same place.

At least one walk and one other event areorganised each month until October.

Secretary – Tel no 01904 760871,E mail: [email protected]

Membership – Tel no 01904 768071,E mail: [email protected]

www.riverfosssociety.co.uk

11Please note that all views expressed in “Northern Navigation News” are those ofthe authors and may not represent those of the Inland Waterways Association.

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EAST provide sailing opportunities three times a year, for visuallyimpaired people with some experience or those who would love togive it a go. Volunteers offer themselves and their boats for use. Theratio is always one fully sighted person to one visually impaired person.

We sailed for a long weekend off the Ipswich coast, calling in atBrightlingsea and Harwich, trying our luck in the open sea beforemoving into the relative safety if the Stour estuary. It was cold andpretty grey for most of the weekend, but, to my surprise we achieved 8knots in what seemed like very little wind. The boat was a 37ftBeneteau and as soon as there was a sniff of wind, our captain hoistedthe sails and cut the engine – which was delightful. There is nothingquite like gliding through the water using only the power of nature toget you where you want to be.

So what did I do you may ask, that I hadn’t done before? I got theopportunity to try an audible compass. I took the helm, steering

Boats moored near Marygate Landing (Photo: Neil Ward)

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the course set by our skipper. If I deviated either to port or starboard,the audible compass let me (and everyone else in board) know! Too farto port, it beeped in a low tone, too far to starboard, it beeped in a hightone. The further off course I deviated, the higher and more insistentthe beeps became. I did feel sorry for my companions, so after a while Irelied solely on my skipper telling me to turn further to port or starboardto keep on course. Under verbal instruction I reversed out of a side-toomooring in Harwich, and tacked merrily up the Stour on our last dayand yes, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

In summary, I can say that sailing is a totally sensory experience:hearing the many and varied sounds of water, wind and bird life, thesmell of the sea and even the fish and chips as you near land, thesensations of the wind as you make 8 knots, the motion of the boat as itglides through the water and the warm comforting feeling as you gobelow deck on a cold dismal grey May day – bliss.

I thank my hosts, David and Carole, and the other 8 boat owners whogave up their time to take visually impaired people for an excitingweekend off the Ipswich coast, and of course EAST for making thewhole thing happen. I know they not only want to promote their sailingweekends to visually impaired people, but also recruit crews who willhelp it happen, If either of those scenarios apply to you – please get intouch with me, Diane Roworth on [email protected]

OUR FRIEND IN THE NORTH by John ReeveKeep Your Speed Down!

On the River Tees there are two issues of power craft speed. The maximumpermitted speed, for powered craft, is 5mph for most of the River Tees.Apart from the Emergency Services, safety & Coaching boats areallowed to keep pace with the faster rowing boats during training andcompetition. There is also provision for Jet Ski and Water Ski boats.However, that is only permitted on the 1000 meter course immediatelyabove the Tees Barrage and only during pre-arranged time slots.

However, a newcomer to the River Tees, Infinity Marine, proposes toestablish a Water Bus Service between Yarm and Stockton (thespeed question is a real concern for a regular river bus service on

Come & Relax by the Water

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Tel: 01904 621 021Fax: 01904 611 950

E-mail:[email protected]

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PrincessWe operate day and evening cruises on our three deluxe river cruisers -the Teesside Princess based on the River Tees at Stockton, plus her sistervessels, the Nottingham Princess and the Nottingham Prince, whichcruise the River Trent.

The Teesside Princess River CruiseDaytime ExperienceChoose from our pre-booked or "hop on hop off" options - something foreveryone and every group size from 1 to 120. Enjoy a comfortable,leisurely cruise. Experience the river in all its glory whilst beingpampered in deluxe, warm surroundings.

Pre-bookedMonday to Saturday, 11.30am until 3.00pm

Meal & Dine Packages:

Navigator Dinner (wait on service)Either - Chicken breast or scampi or crispy battered cod all service withchips, peas or beans. Hot apple pie and cream. Tea or coffee.

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Afternoon tea (wait on service)Freshly-made sandwich with salad garnish and crisps. Scones with freshcream and jam. Tea or coffee.

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Traditional Roast Dinner Cruise - 11.30am until 3.00pm

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Prices inclusive of cruise and meal.

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River CruisesTraditional RoastDinner (wait onservice)British roast beef, roastpotatoes, three seasonalvegetables, Yorkshirepudding and a rich oniongravy. Hot apple pie andcream. Tea or coffee.

Adults £14.50, Concessions£14, Children Special £9(including free drink).

Sailing Timetable from all boarding points, 2013"Hop on hop off" passengers

Stockton Castlegate Quay 11.30am (depart)Preston Park 12.30pm (depart)Yarm Quay 1.15pm (depart)Preston Park 2.00pm (depart)Stockton Castlegate Quay 3.00pm (docking time)

Return journey: Adults £8, Concessions £7.50, Children £7Single journey: Adults £6, Concessions £5.50, Children £5One stop: Adults £4, Concessions £4, Children £4

Family tickets available

Daily Special Menu available on board for "Hop on hop off"passengers.

For information and bookings contact 01642 608038or see: www.princessrivercruises.co.uk

The Teesside Princess leaves Yarmon its return journey to Stockton

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the River Ouse at York – Editor) The owner has published his intention toapply for a raising of the speed limit during peak commuting times.However, the majority of regular river users are not in favour: for thefollowing reasons:

(a) Training is carried out during the morning by Rowing Team GBand others and (b) the damage to the banks and the environment.

I reported at the Board Meeting of the Watersports Centre (John Reeveis a Trustee), that some powered craft seemed to be exceeding thespeed limit and not observing the normal ‘rules of the river’ i.e. ‘keep tothe right’. On both these matters, in behalf of the TRUT board I am incontact with the Canal and River Trust in Leeds on this issue.

Navigation Committee (IWA)

Following my appointment to represent the NE and Yorkshire on theNavigation Committee, I attended their April 2013 meeting. Much ofthe business did not impact directly on the North Riding Branch area,but could affect IWA members who cruise more widely.

There was discussion on enrolling and keeping members and membershipservices and recent proposed changes to the Canal and River Trustmooring regulations. The on-going overstay monitoring and control wasalso discussed, as was the recent update of the BSS inspections and thechange to co-ordinated electronic recording and certificate issue.

High Speed 2 (HS2)

Also more relevant to our widely cruising members and our colleaguesin Leeds and Sheffield was HS2 phase 2. The IWA are spearheading thecampaign to ensure the mitigation of the effect on the waterways. Theyhave set up a national Sub Committee chaired by Vaughan Welsh(Chair of the West Midlands Region and Chair of the RestorationCommittee and a member of the CRT Council. In the NE that role willbe taken by David Stowe of Shipley).

New Head of CRT Staff

Richard Parry has been appointed as the CRT Chief Executive tosucceed Robin Evans. His former career was in Railway Management

on the West Coast Services.

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Guy, his wife and son purchased Ambience Café Bar inSeptember 2011 as theirfirst business. They livein York centre and havea real love for the city.

Guy has worked atsome of Yorkshire’s bestrestaurants as well asoverseas and felt that at29 years old he wasready to use the experi-ence which he hadgained to create anexciting new menu andrevamped cafe.

Guy and his family feel proud to be part of the Gillygate community and to beable to offer another great place to eat on this wonderful, historical street.

Guy is passionate about using and supporting local suppliers where ever possi-ble and cooking with fresh ingredients. We feel very lucky to have a countywhere there is so much fantastic produce to use! There is a specials board whichchanges regularly with seasonal dishes. There are delicious homemade cakes andfluffy scones. Ambience is open as a café Mon-Sat during day time BistroThursday and Friday nights and on Sunday we serve roast and we also cater forprivate parties.

ContactAmbience Cafe Bar40 Gillygate,York,YO31 7EQT: 01904 652500

E: [email protected]

Summer Opening HoursMonday-Friday 8am-5pmThursday-Friday 6.30pm-8.30pmSaturday 9am-6pmSunday 10am-4pm

Winter Opening HoursMonday-Saturday 9am-5pmThursday-Friday 6.30pm-8.30pmSunday 10am-4pm

Selby Boat Centrecurrently offers residential, short andlong-term berths on our linearmoorings on the Selby Canal just ashort distance from Selby Lock.

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The Northern Navigation News, Summer 2013, IWA North Riding Branch

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