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"A Gathering for every type of boat afloat.

Canal, River & Coastal"

We invite you to the 11th Saul Canal Festival
The 2008 Saul Canal Festival will once again provide a really special weekend in glorious Gloucestershire.
As a boater you will appreciate the need for match funding for waterway restoration projects. By bringing your boat to Saul Canal Festival you play a part in raising finances for the country's most significant waterway restoration. All surplus proceeds from this Festival will help to restore the waterway link between the rivers Severn & Thames.

Saul 's five facets merge into a unique Festival experience

 

1. Boat Gathering - every type of boat afloat...Canal, River & Coastal

2. Folk on the Water Weekend - Music, theatre & dance with artistes from far & near

3. Craft & Marine Trades Market - traders from around the inland waterways

4. Real Ale Bar - Real ales from local breweries in The Drum & Monkey Alehouse

5. Family Fun - Games, displays, boat trips, children's theatre and interactive exhibits

Electric & manual wheelchairs will be available on site.

Other outstanding Festival features include:

- Riverside Green: craft & arts traders create an ‘evening street market' atmosphere

- Food Street: an international range of quality cuisine and refreshment

- Four music venues: The Drum & Monkey Alehouse; The Oliver Cromwell Riverboat Hotel; The Barge Sabrina Theatre and The Folk on the Water Music Pavilion to keep live music flowing all weekend

- Top Line Concerts: drawn from the best of bands and musicians

New for 2008
Being ever alert to the needs of Saul Festival patrons, we continue to implement a rolling program of improvements suggested
by festival goers.

1. Easy Booking
Responding to feedback we have simplified booking & payments for boats and crews

2. One Form
There is just one form for Boat Mooring & a choice of Access Wristbands to suit the needs of skipper & crew. The form is available in PDF format click here

3.
One Payment
A Boat Skipper makes just one wristband purchase - The Skipper's Silver or Skipper's Gold wristband. The wristband includes the £20 boat mooring fee plus the skipper's choice of access wristband type.
(See 4 & 5 below)

4. Here for the Boats?
If you and your crew simply favour the Boat Gathering element of the Festival that is all you pay for.
Look for the Silver Wristbands option

5. Musical Boaters?
On the other hand, if you are a boating music fan determined to take in as many concert performances as possible then...Look for the Gold Wristbands option. Skipper & crew can also ‘mix & match' their respective access options

6. Trail Boaters
2008 sees a vast improvement in the facilities for boaters at Saul.
The new marina at Saul will be open by the time of the Festival and the slipway will be operational.

The Trail Boat arrangements are as follows:
  1. Land & Water have agreed a special Festival Slipway Charge total £12
    This special rate applies to boats that have been registered as Festival entries
  2. To book the slipway call Marina Managers Bob & Cheryl 01452 740 941 who will take your details, time of arrival etc
  3. Boat Trailers under this scheme will be parked in a designated area on the Festival Car Park nearby
  4. The Festival Moorings Manager will allocate your boat a mooring with other similar vessels

7. No Worries
Don't worry about losing your wristbands! We hold them for you on site and fit them on arrival.

8. Additional Crew Wristbands
Additional Crew Wristbands can be purchased by post with the new, easy to complete, postal form - available here in PDF format click here

9. Phone a Friend
Saul Canal Festival presents the perfect opportunity for your friends to visit you in this beautiful waterside corner of Gloucestershire. They can pay on the gate. The Daytime Festival Site Entry fee is £6 per adult while accompanied children up to the age of 16yrs enjoy free admission. Pay on the Gate & stay ‘til late!

10. Free Festival Site Access for Support Staff Volunteers
Saul Canal Festival is organised and operated entirely by volunteer members of the Cotswold Canals Trust. We need some help to put on this wonderful weekend of fun and entertainment... therefore, Adult Boaters who register as Support Staff Volunteers for two or more 2-hour shifts enjoy free & unrestricted access to the show! (£20 Mooring Fee still applies. Does not include the Music Concerts in the Folk on the Water Pavilion) Please submit your Support Staff Registration Form with your Boat Entry Form.
The Registration Form is available in PDF format click here

We look forward to welcoming you to the 11th Saul Canal Festival. And do remember… Absolutely all the surplus proceeds from this Festival will go towards the restoration! Whether your interest is boating, folk music, real ale, crafts, or simply a super family weekend away, the 2008 Saul Canal Festival has something for you.

Whether or not you are a first time visitor to the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, here are some sites that we think will help you enjoy your visit. Just click on the buttons below.


Severn Estuary Passage

This information has been compiled for boaters interested in making the Severn Estuary Passage to or from Sharpness.

Witcombe on the SevernNarrowboaters are advised that the passage should only be carried out under the supervision and guidance of a qualified Estuary Pilot. The Gloucester Pilot Partnership provides this service.

Each skipper must make individual arrangements with the Pilot Partnership.
There are only three Pilots recognised by the navigation authorities.

  • Ken Higgs
  • Bill Paine
  • Carl Merry
Booking a pilot can only be made by telephone on:- 07774 226 143

Voyage dates and timings are subject to tides, wind, weather
and commercial shipping commitments.
Bristol Suspension Bridge



You may find your marine insurance company will insist you engage such a pilot.
Other insurance companies agree to cover if you navigate in what they term the 'Mother Duck Principle'.

Such arrangements are at your individual risk and responsibility.

Be aware that each pilot will only take pilotage responsibility for the boat on which he travels. The current practice is for craft to break the voyage by locking into Portishead Marina to await the next available tide into the River Avon and Bristol

 


Portishead Quays Marina
Harbour Road
Portishead
North Somerset
BS20 7DF
Email: kberry@quaymarinas.com
Tel: 01275 841 941
Fax: 01275 841 942
www.quaymarinas.co.uk/marinas/portishead.asp?q=portishead


Portishead Marina Facilities:
  • Showers Toilets and Launderette
  • Waitrose supermarket adjacent to marina
  • Pub - The Royal Hotel - 5 mins. walk
  • Village and restaurants - 15 mins. walk
Costs:
  • Pilot Fees: Sharpness - Portishead - £150. Beyond Portishead - £200
  • Portishead Marina Mooring Fees: £1.60 per metre. Minimum fee £16.00

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The Saul Canal Festival is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

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©  Saul Canal Festival 2008
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