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Regents Canoe
Club Based at the Regents canal, Graham Street, London N1 |
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Regents Canoe Club is a member of the BCU (number 598) |
Frequently asked questions Where can I find Regents Canoe Club? Can children use the facilities at Regents Canoe Club?
Where can I find Regents Canoe Club? The club is based at 16-34 Graham Street, London N1 8JX. This is roughly ten minutes walk from Angel tube station (Islington) or Old Street tube station (both on the Northern Line). From Angel head south east on City Road, towards the City. From Old Street head north west along City Road, towards Islington. Graham street is about 1/2 mile from both stations. The club is 500m along Graham street on the right. The club shares the facilities of Islington Boat Club. Click here to view map.
Can I leave my bicycle at Regents Canoe Club? Bicycles can be left at the club during club opening hours, but must be locked.
Can I park at Regents Canoe Club? During club opening hours cars can be parked outside on Graham Street.
Do you have facilities for the disabled? Access to Regents Canoe Club is across flat ground with no steps or ramps. At the present time we do not have disabled toilet facilities. If you have a disability and wish to visit the club, but need more information, please contact us at web@regentscanoeclub.co.uk.
Can children use the facilities at Regents Canoe Club? To visit or join Regents Canoe Club you must be over 18 years old. Children and teenagers wishing to kayak can contact Islington Boat Club who are based at the same address as Regents. The nearby Pirate Castle also caters for children, as does Westminster Boating Base in west London.
Yes. You must be able to swim 50m in light clothing.
How old do I have to be to join Regents Canoe Club? You must be over 18 years old to paddle at Regents Canoe Club. If you are under 18 years old you could try Islington Boat Club (based at the same address) or the Westminster Boating Base.
Can I bring a group of friends to paddle at the club? Members may introduce guests to the club on Monday and Thursday evenings, providing they take personal responsibility for the guest(s) and accompany them on the water. The cost to the guest is £5, payable to the Duty Officer or a committee member. Guests must sign the Casual User Form, available from the Duty Officer. Groups of non-members can attend courses or open evenings advertised on the website, but please bear in mind that these courses and evenings are intended to introduce non-members to the club and are run by volunteers. They are not designed as an entertainment activity for groups.
Can I hire a boat from the club? Boat hire is only available to members. See the equipment page for more information. Non-members can check the links page for public canoe and kayak hire options near London.
Does Regents Canoe Club provide private lessons? No. The club does not have the facilities to provide private tuition.
What sort of boats do you have? Regents Canoe Club has a wide selection of canoes and kayaks. These include many river running kayaks, with a smaller selection of play boats, slalom boats, wavehoppers and open boats (traditional canoes, also known as ‘Canadians’). We do not currently have any sea kayaks.
Can I store a boat at Regents Canoe Club? The club has very limited boat storage facilities, with no room to store extra boats.
How often does Regents Canoe Club arrange river trips? The majority of our members currently paddle white water rivers, which generally require rain or dam release to provide enough flow. During the winter season (October to February) the club usually organises at least one trip every month. During the summer, club members usually organise several trips to the Tryweryn, a dam release river in North Wales. The club also organises a week long trip to the Alps or a similar European destination each Spring. Members frequently organise their own trips and advertise them to other members via a regular email newsletter called ‘Notes from Canalside’. Different trips cater for both the experienced and less experienced paddler. The website calendar shows upcoming club trips.
Does Regents Canoe Club play canoe polo? Few of our members are currently active in canoe polo. We do however have polo nets set up on the canal basin for the use of members.
Is Regents Canoe Club active in canoe slalom? Slalom poles are available and are frequently set up in the canal basin. Members use these for training, but at present, few of our members are active in competitive slalom.
What training does Regents Canoe Club offer to members? The club provides occasional training opportunities, which are run by volunteer members. Check the website calendar to see what we currently have on offer. At club pool sessions we usually have two volunteer instructors present, who will do their best to assist other members improve their paddling. The club can also arrange professional training where there is sufficient interest from members. Costs will usually be passed onto those members taking part.
How experienced do I need to be to join club trips? The majority of club trips are to white water rivers, where some previous experience or instruction is essential. The club runs two or three Introduction to White Water Kayaking courses each year, and this is an ideal route into white water paddling. However, other members use the club’s facilities and the pool sessions to improve their skills, before graduating onto white water. The club usually runs several autumn trips to gentler white water rivers to prepare less experienced paddlers for the white water trips which we run over winter.
When can non-members visit the club? Non-members who wish to paddle can only visit the club on our Open Evenings. However, if you wish to visit the club without paddling, you may do so on any evening that the club is open (no cost). Please ask for the Duty Officer and they should be able to show you around and answer any questions you may have. Non-members can also visit as a guest of a member, providing that the member takes personal responsibility for the non-member(s) and accompanies them on the water. This includes ensuring they only use a spraydeck if you are satisfied that they have had previous experience of using one and that they have completed a capsize test with spraydeck. If in doubt do not provide them with one. Encourage them to join the club and do a capsize test with spraydeck at the canal or a pool session. The cost to the non-member is £5, payable to the Duty Officer or a committee member. Non-members must sign the Casual User Form, available from the Duty Officer.
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Regents Canoe Club, based at Regents canal, 16-34 Graham Street, London N1 8JX
Published 18/12/2009