Notice

Henley Music Festival 2021: river restriction notice

Published 14 September 2021

This notice was withdrawn on

This information is out of date and has been archived.

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2021

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/henley-music-festival-2021-river-restriction-notice/henley-music-festival-2021-river-restriction-notice

When

Wednesday 15 to Sunday 19 September 2021.

Where

Henley Reach.

Details

We wish to ensure the safe transit and mooring of all boat owners intending to travel to or navigating through the Henley Reach during the Festival. Those in charge of boats must conform with these directions and with any special directions which, at the discretion of the Harbour Master, may be required in particular circumstances during these dates.

All boats must navigate in accordance with instructions given from Environment Agency lock staff or patrol launches.

The navigation of all boats (except those authorised by the Environment Agency) will be restricted as follows:

  • All boats must navigate at slow speed and with extreme care and caution between Henley Bridge and The Remenham Club.
  • No boats may anchor in any position between Henley Bridge and The Remenham Club. Anchoring outside of this area can only be carried out ensuring that no obstruction is caused to the navigation fairway or access to the banks for other boats.
  • All boats including manually propelled boats should maintain a proper look out at all time.
  • Powered boats must not stop or loiter in the navigation channel, or otherwise impede or interfere with the navigation of any other boats between Henley Bridge and The Remenham Club.
  • U-turns are not permitted in the vicinity of the floating stage, except when necessary for coming to or from moorings.
  • Sailing boats can navigate only with oars or mechanical power and must not hoist their sail(s).

From time to time information regarding navigation between Henley Bridge and The Remenham Club may be broadcast on Channel 74 Marine Band VHF.

We expect the Henley Reach to be busy during these times. Therefore, we would like to remind river users that whilst navigating under bridges boats going upstream must give way to boats coming downstream. The headway at the highest point of Henley Bridge is 4.34 metres or 14 feet and 3 inches. Headways are measured above standard head water level of the lock below, therefore the measurements given are for guidance only.

All boats must use navigation lights whilst navigating at night.

Mooring

  • Mooring must only take place with consent from the relevant landowner.
  • Mooring must not cause a restriction or obstruction to navigation.
  • Henley Royal Regatta course has been fully removed and there will be no in channel booms to moor to.

Owners and masters off all boats are reminded that it’s an offence for boats to carry more than twelve passengers unless a valid maritime and coastguard agency passenger carrying certificate is shown on board.

It is an offence to fail to conform with the directions in this notice or to obstruct an officer of the Environment Agency in the execution of their duty or to fail to obey directions given regarding the navigation, mooring or unmooring of any boat.

It is an offence to jump into the river or onto any vessel on the river from any place including a bridge or a highway or dive or swim or bathe in the river in such a manner as to cause obstruction, nuisance, annoyance or risk of danger or injury to persons or property. Bathing or swimming is prohibited at any time between Henley Bridge and The Remenham Club.

Byelaws

Nothing contained in these directions shall supersede those parts of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 as may be relevant.

And Notice is hereby given, that it is provided by Byelaw 52 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws, 1993 that:

The master of any vessel shall except in an emergency not pass any boat-race regatta public procession or gathering for the launch of a vessel or any other event or function which may cause a crowd to assemble on or by the river nor station his vessel thereon in such a manner as would risk obstructing impeding or interfering with such boat-race regatta procession launching event or function or endangering the safety of persons assembling on the river or preventing or interfering with the maintenance of order thereon.

The maximum penalty for breach of the Byelaws is £1,000.

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