Make it a date - 15^th May 2022

The Wey & Arun Canal Trust is once again running its popular boat rally on the River Arun and welcomes everyone to join in the fun. 

Previous year’s events have been a great success, attracting dozens of small boats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards for the three-and-a-half hour trip from Pulborough and Stopham to the tidal limit at Pallingham in West Sussex. The route reaches the furthest navigable point for boats, and it is free to take part.

High water at Pulborough is at 15:45 (approx) and at Stopham at 16:15.

Launching time for boats at Pulborough and canoes at Stopham will be sent to registered participants nearer the date, and posted here.

Details

Boats can be launched from the Pulborough slipway with a view to getting upstream to Pallingham Quay. Canoes can travel from Stopham Bridge. If you wish to go right to the end of the permitted navigation expect a trip time of 4-5 hours. Maps showing launch locations are available here for Stopham Bridge and Pulborough

There is no fee to participate, but donations towards costs on the day would be welcome. Please register for the event using the link above.

The aim is to reach the point where the Wey and Arun reached the junction with the river Arun and then on to Pallingham Quay, the highest navigable point for boats on the Arun. In most years it’s possible to reach this point and then travel upstream to Pallingham Quay but that depends on both the tide and the flow of the river. At Pallingham Quay, people often walk over to the canal to view the canal bridge and the line of the watercourse. If time and water levels permit, participants also stop for a drink at the White Hart, Stopham Bridge.

Directions

The slipway is located on the A29 about 100 metres south of the two small roundabouts in Pulborough. Travelling south it is on the left hand side of the road, adjacent to a café (please keep this area clear for their customers). The café is likely to be open when people arrive they obviously have toilets but, quite reasonably, expect people to buy a drink if they use the facilities. Trailers can be left adjacent to the slipway and cars may be parked either on the other side of the river or in the pay-and-display car park adjacent to Pulborough station. The slipway is very steep but boats up to around 14 feet long can be launched as everyone mucks in to help. The channel is quite variable in width so some of us will take bow saws and tree loppers. It is recommended that people wear wellingtons for launching and to land at Pallingham. If there hasn’t been much rain during the preceding couple of weeks then the few hundred metres before Pallingham can be a challenge!

Take your litter home Respect the countryside

For any further information, please email events@weyandarun.co.uk