The FBW Campaign Cruises for 2025 concluded with the boats that participated in the main Cruise having covered thousands of miles of the waterway network raising awareness of the benefits of our inland waterways and the threats to them from inadequate funding.  You can catch up with the activities by joining the Facebook group Fund Britain’s Waterways – Cruises for 2025

The first boats set off from Strawberry Island Boat Club, near Doncaster, on 29th March, and during April boats from across the UK travelled from their home locations to Little Venice, London to attend IWA’s Canalway Cavalcade over the bank holiday weekend of 3^rd to 5^th May.

Boats called at marinas or cruising clubs on route, where the local people organised events to which local politicians including MPs were invited.

The boats formed small convoys and moored together. The boats’ crews posted on social media as they progressed. The aim of the cruise has been to generate positive publicity for the FBW campaign getting local people and their political representatives involved.

Following IWA’s Canalway Cavalcade, a group of boats moved to Limehouse Basin and on Wednesday 7^th May to cruise to the Palace of Westminster on a rising tide, arriving at the Palace from 10.30 a.m.  High Water Westminster Bridge was at 11.00 a.m.  After making our voices heard for a suitable length of time, boats headed downriver on the ebbing tide, passing Limehouse, for overnight moorings in West India Dock.

On Thursday 8^th May, boats cruised from West India Dock to Brentford or Teddington. As water levels allowed, boats departed the Dock on a rising tide inbound for Brentford and Teddington. High Water Brentford and Teddington was at 1.00 p.m.  There was also an opportunity for boats to depart the tideway at Limehouse Lock.

Week 6 Sunday 4^th May – Saturday 10^th May – Busy week this week – Little Venice IWA Cavalcade – 6^th May to Limehouse – 7^th May Campaign Cruise to Palace of Westminster – 8^th May Dispersal Cruise with boats heading for Brentford and Teddington – Boats Coming through Brentford Lock will head for Hillingdon Canal Club – Cruising the Regents Canal, River Thames, Grand Union Canal – Boats Heading to Teddington will be continuing up the Thames

Week 7 Sunday 11^th May to Saturday 17^th May – Hillingdon Canal Club to Lionhearts Cruising Club – Cruising the Grand Union Canal

Week 8 Sunday 18^th May to Saturday 24th May – Lionhearts Cruising Club to Lichfield Cruising Club, Huddlesford Junction – Cruising the Grand Union, Northern Oxford and Coventry canals

 Week 9 Sunday 25^th May to Saturday 31^st May – Lichfield Cruising Club (Huddlesford Junction) – Derby Motorboat Club – Cruising the Coventry and Trent & Mersey canals

Week 10 Sunday 1^st June to Saturday 7^th June – Derby Motorboat Club to Boston – Cruising the River Trent, Fossdyke Navigation and River Witham

[Note: An unexpected closure of the Boston Barrier between 2nd and 15th June has disrupted plans, as the then next available window for suitable tides, etc, is 23rd to 28th June.  The schedule for the flotilla is therefore being reviewed].

Week 11  – Boston to Denver Sluice Cruising Club Dependent on weather – Cruising the The Wash and River Nene

Week 12  – Denver Sluice Cruising Club to Cambridge – Cruising the River Nene, Middle Level Navigations, River Great Ouse and River Cam

Week 13  – Cambridge to St Ives – Cruising the River Cam and River Great Ouse

Week 14  – St Ives – March – Cruising the River Great Ouse and Middle Level Navigations

Week 15  – March – Peterborough – Cruising the Middle Level Navigations and River Nene

Week 16  – Peterborough – Oundle – Cruising the River Nene

Week 17  – Oundle – Northampton – Cruising the River Nene

Week 18  – Northampton to Hinkley – Cruising the River Nene, Northampton Arm, Grand Union, Northern Oxford, Coventry and Ashby canals

Week 19  – Hinkley to Swarkestone – Cruising the Ashby, Coventry and Trent & Mersey canals

Week 20  – Swarkestone to Doncaster – Cruising the Trent & Mersey Canal, River Trent, Stainforth & Keadby Canal, Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation.