Wey Kayak Club National Marathon Championships 2026: river restriction notice
Published 8 July 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wey-kayak-club-national-marathon-championships-2026-river-restriction-notice/wey-kayak-club-national-marathon-championships-2026-river-restriction-notice
When
Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July 2026, 6am to 7pm.
Where
Chertsey reach.
Details
Large numbers of kayaks & canoes with both single and double crews, will be racing in multiple classes between a marker buoy immediately downstream of the M3 road over bridge above Chertsey Lock and a marker buoy approximately 100 Metres downstream of Penton Hook Lock. An intermediate marker buoy will be laid immediately upstream of Ferry Lane indicating a turning point for junior crews. Some of these competing craft will be moving at high speed.
There will be no racing channel set up, competing crews are to navigate the river correctly and safely whilst being aware of other river users.
Masters of non-competing vessels should take up a position to the right of the centre of the navigation channel during ordinary navigation.
Regatta boards will mark the upstream and downstream extent of the course.
Masters of all boats must navigate slowly and maintain a proper lookout upon exiting Chertsey Lock when heading upstream to the turn marker downstream of Penton Hook Lock.
All boats and kayaks must be navigated in accordance with any instructions given from Environment Agency control points or patrol launches.
Those in charge of boats should also be aware that they are responsible for avoiding collision and should use all available means appropriate to the circumstances and conditions to decide if there is a risk of immediate danger and avoid it.
Bathing or swimming are not allowed in the river in the vicinity of the course during these times.
All directions as to river left and river right 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.