Welcome to Sandford Boating Club's website.

Boaters' News

• The 2016 boating season has got off to a good start at Sandford with the club being out and about on the navigation a few times this year already.
  
  It was unfortunate that our planned easter run to Heybridge was postponed as work was still being carried out on Paper Mill Lock right up until the friday afternoon, although the hard working EWL team did manage to get it open.
  
  Over the late May bank holiday our Hoe Mill trip saw some of our Paper Mill members cruising to Heybridge on the saturday before meeting up with other boats on the sunday at Hoe Mill.
  
  Fathers Day saw boats cruising up into Springfield Basin under the old and new road bridges, giving us all a good view of the demolition works. The weather was kind to us on both occasions, which can be seen from the photo's in our gallery section, and fingers are now crossed for the rest of the boating season.

General Notices

• Boaters are reminded that the navigation will be shut between Barnes and Springfield Locks for a couple of days after the 26th June to allow for the demolition of the old road bridge. UPDATE: Due to river flooding the demolition work has been delayed and will not be completed until Monday 4th July
• Cutons Lock has now got a broken down stream paddle which makes the emptying of the lock rather slow.
• The new lock gates for Hoe Mill are being made and will be fitted in the autumn which will mean a closure for a couple of days - more details to follow when work dates are confirmed.
• During the coming winter months the lock at Heybridge will be out of action to allow the replacement of gates and also the Cassion gate.

LOCKS

• Please be aware that members of the Sandford Boating Club are in the process of repainting the locks at Sandford, Barnes and Cutons.
• After new gates and repairs to Ricketts Lock, it is now back in operation

WEED

• Weed cutting has been started and is heading our way. The weed by the moorings above the lock at Sandford is very thick with Blanket weed but once through Bundocks Bridge it is clear.
• The next problem is above Barnes, as usual, where again it is quite thick.
• After that the weed is patchy but thick when you turn into the cut for Springfield Lock.
• Please be aware of the weed at the far end of the Basin if you intend to m,oor for the river festival and / or to use the pump out facilities.

About the club

As you may be aware, we have here at Sandford a boating club which was set up a few years ago to pool ideas about our moorings, create a single body for which to discuss matters with E.W.L, but mainly to organise a few events during the year that would be enjoyable to all moorers and encourage more usage of this upper end of the navigation.

Membership of the Sandford Boating Club is free and available to anyone, not just Boat Owners and mooring users on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation.

The objectives of the club are to promote and facilitate:

1. Community boating, members events, and generally encouraging the use of the waterway known as the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation.
2. Organising boating, social and other river activities for members and their guests as determined or requested by the members.
3. Promote community spirit, where members are encouraged to work together to help improve the community. Help and welcome all new comers.
4. Enabling a means of good communication between the navigation authority and mooring users at Sandford Lock and other navigation moorings. Representing the majority members.
5. Assisting the navigation authority, and Residential Caretakers, with any maintenance of the moorings, including cutting of grassed areas, and to generally keep the moorings tidy and litter free.
6. Supporting the activities and objectives of the Inland Waterways Association and Chelmer Canal Trust.
7. Holding boating and related river events for the purpose of raising funds to enable monies to be used for certain improvements to the moorings and facilities as determined by the members of the managing committee, and agreed with the current licensing authority.
8. Any other social, boating and club events agreed and supported by the members.

Links

As you're here we have some other websites that you may be interested in:

• Blackwater Boats - Boat Trips and Charters in Chelmsford. Also RYA training.
• The Foxearth and District Local History Society - A walking guide to the Chelmer and Blackwater.
• The Tuesday Night ClubGallery of photos from a trip up the C&D Navigation from 2001.
• Boats on the Chelmer & Blackwater CanalLooks at some of the boats that have featured on the navigation during the last 23 years.
• Chelmer Canal Trust The Chelmer Canal Trust Limited is a registered charity, and voluntary group whose main focus is The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation and its environs. For information on their work parties, you should visit This page

All content of this website © 2014 Sandford Boating Club. Website design Peter Taylor. All rights reserved.