Audlem Lass in Towpath Talk

The popular free magazine for canal users, Towpath Talk, features Audlem Lass in its October issue.

The magazine is said to be Britain's fastest growing waterways publication. Anthony Davis of Overwater Marina wrote the summary of Audlem Lass' first season that appeared in Towpath Talk and it's thought other magazines may feature Audlem's latest attraction:-

The Audlem Lass - The little water taxi’s first season – a great success!

Cheshire based Overwater Marina and the volunteer crew of the Audlem Lass are celebrating the outstanding success of their weekend water taxi’s first season.  This free service started operations between the marina and Audlem village on 22 April 2011 at Overwater Marina’s Big Easter Bank Holiday Open Weekend.  

To date, the Audlem Lass has made over one thousand individual trips, transporting three thousand four hundred passengers and raising a grand total of £3,291 in donations for the RNLI.  Janet Maughan, co-owner of the marina said “I am so proud of the efforts that all the team have put in to raise money for such a worthwhile cause.”

Rodney Cottrell purchased the boat with the aid of a local grant and converted it into a water taxi by adding seating, a canopy and also built a boarding dock in the marina.

A team of eleven local, retired gentlemen, volunteered to skipper the boat and having all taken advantage of Cheshire Cat Training services to get their RYA Inland Helmsman Certificates. Taking the service one step further a member of the Shropshire branch of the IWA donated a dozen lifejackets enabling school children sponsored by the Countryside Trust to visit the marina and get their first taste of cruising on the cut. 

The team regularly undertake safety training including essential man overboard skills, which proved very entertaining, especially for Anthony Davis, Marina Supervisor who threw himself overboard three times in order to be rescued!

In fact, on Saturday 3rd September Audlem Lass became a rescue boat herself!  A narrowboat ran into engine difficulties and thanks to the Audlem Lass crew, she was towed to the safety of the marina and a waiting engineer!

As well as the weekend taxi service, the boat is offered for skippered trips, which has proven popular with the local Womens Institute, The Brownies and regular moorers of the marina.

The Audlem Lass skippers have been amazed at the generosity of the donations and the wide range of people using the boat service, including families from all over the world.  The Audlem Lass will be running till the end of September, possibly longer if there is demand.*  

They will start up again next spring when the crew and passengers will, once again, enjoy the beauty and wildlife of Overwater Marina, Audlem and the South Cheshire countryside.

*The service continues to Sunday 23rd October 

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