This cruise on the Basinsgtoke has been sponsored by the Basingstoke Canal Society in conjunction with Byfleet Boat Club and the Local (Guildford and Reading) branch of the IWA.

It is the first cruise over the entire length of the canal since 2006 following a successful cruise by four boats from Byfleet Boat Club (Leo No2, Hazell Nut, Aqua Vitae and Winter Lilly) to Brookwood village between Christmas and New Year 2012.

The main aim is to navigate to the limit of the navigation but there are three options available as follows:

1) Cruise to the Bridge Barn hotel in Woking and return
2) Cruise to Brookwood Country Park and return
3) Cruise to King John's Castle (Odiham) and return

Application form available here

Currently the boat numbers are:

Woking - 2
Brookwood Country Park - 7
Odiham/King John's Castle - 32

If the title of a post is in bold characters you can click the title to see a PDF version of the information.

Hydrocottle AKA Floating Pennywort

Floating Pennywort
We have been asked (maybe even instructed) by the BCA that all boats ascending the St Johns flight of locks must inspect their weedhatches for the presence of Hydrocottle (also known as Floating Pennywort).  On the Basingstoke we know it is present below the St Johns flight of locks; the BCA are doing all they can to rid the canal of this awful weed. There is, to the best of everyone's knowledge, none of it in or above St Johns so on behalf of the BCA we are insisting that you check your weedhatches for any evidence of this weed and take all action necessary to remove it.

Good news on the Lock 13 front - all the machinery to undertake this work is now stored opposite my house so work seems to be going to commence on Monday 18-March.

If you have any questions about the cruise please let me know.

Update 20-March - Lock 13 gates are in - there's a bit of adjustment to carry out and some new balance beams to fit to the lower gates - I think the BCA are pulling out all the stops to get everything done in time for us.  We should raise a glass in their honour over the period of the trip and if you have the opportunity to make them a tea or coffee or supply a bacon butty I am sure they would welcome it.
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