Reading Water Fest 2024: river closure notice
Published 16 May 2024
© Crown copyright 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reading-water-fest-2024-river-closure-notice/reading-water-fest-2024-river-closure-notice
When
From 8am on Wednesday 5 June to 5pm on Wednesday 12 June 2024.
Where
Forbury Loop on the River Kennet.
Details
The Forbury Loop on the River Kennet in Reading will be closed to all boats other than those participating in the Reading Water Fest.
No public mooring will be allowed in the Forbury Loop during this closure.
Access to and from the ‘Bel & the Dragon’ restaurant moorings will not be affected by this closure.
Regatta boards will mark the upstream and downstream ends of the course.
Racing will be held between 8am on Wednesday 5 June to 5pm on Wednesday 12 June 2024.
You should keep to a safe speed and be aware of other boats near the event.
You should follow any instructions given from Environment Agency control points or patrol launches.
You are responsible for avoiding collisions. You should use all available means appropriate to the situation to avoid risk.
Swimming is not allowed on or near the course during the stated times.
All directions as to the left and right side of the river are given looking upstream.
Byelaws
Nothing contained in these directions shall supersede those parts of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 and the UK Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996 as may be relevant. Particular attention should be paid to byelaws 24-42 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993, Steering Sailing and Speed.
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.
Read our Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993.