Shelterboat Sails again!

Following the successful Shelterboat 1 expedition from Acle to Norwich via Great Yarmouth, then Shelterboat 2 along the river Avon from Stratford upon Avon to Tewkesbury, Rotarian Paul Weatherill has now completed a third expedition, on the river Thames in July 2024. As before, he was supported by Rotary Clubs along the route from Henley to Shepperton.

Shelterboat 1 and 2 each raised £3,000 for Shelterbox Disaster Relief, and Shelterboat 3 has a target of £5,000.

The voyage began at Fawley Meadows, Henley-on-Thames on Saturday 20th July, where Shelterboat was also part of the popularThames Traditional Boat Festival. The Festival celebrates the best in British boatbuilding and craftmanship, evoking the nostalgia of boating from a bygone era.This long-running event  offers attractions on the water, in the air and on land, and this year included a flotilla of Dunkirk 'Little Ships' to celebrate 80 years since D Day in June 1944.

It is not clear whether our micro dinghy constructed around a Shelterbox and powered by sail and/or electric outboard motor, designed and constructed by Paul Weatherill and Nigel Tubby, actually qualifies as an example of the best of British boatbuilding and craftmanship, but it has now survived 3 epic voyages so far.. To give an indication of the amount of space available to the sailor, the Shelterbox is a plastic box, dimensions aproximately 33" x 24" x 24". Paul sat in this cramped box for up to 8 hours a day whilst negotiating a busy river with weirs, locks and very large boats and barges, a heroic effort which he has now made on three occasions,

After leaving Henley on Thames Paul's first overnight stop was at Marlow.. The following morning, on Sunday 21st July he sailed to Windsor, mooring by arrangement in the grounds of Eton College. The final part of the voyage, from Windsor to Shepperton was completed at around 6 p.m. on Monday 22nd July. A number of Rotary Clubs along the route made donations to Shelterbox.

 The fnal part of the trip involved a circuit of the historic D'Oyly Carte island escorted by a flotilla of vessels, including a Sailability boat and two local ferries. A large crowd had gathered at Shepperton Lock to see Shelterboat complete its voyage, and a reception followed, at which the local Rotary District Governor Tim Vile and local mayor Med Buck were present.

Paul's friend and co-conspirator Dave Foster, a member of Evesham Vale Rotary Club, planned and co-ordinated the event with several Rotary Clubs along the route, including Henley, Marlow, Windsor, Shepperton and Sunbury, and Shepperton Aurora.

You can make a donation  to support Paul in his efforts on behalf of Shelterbox by clicking here