Steam Boat Association of Great Britain upcoming events

Keeping Your Feet Dry V (11 Sep 2026)

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

This will be the fifth steamboater training Keeping your Feet Dry event!

The venue again will be the Fell Foot, the National Trust's place at the southern end of Windermere on (provisionally) Friday 11th September 2026.

It is designed to be inexpensive, will be for a maximum of 12 people and will be highly informative and hands-on, with time on the water and the opportunity enjoy operating small marine steam plants of different kinds.

It's the ideal starting point if you are thinking of getting a steam boat, or just want to know more and is open to all.

Registration for trainees is now open!

Further information here. A risk assessment is available here.

The handout which was provided at the 2025 event may be downloaded here - we don't foresee any significant changes to it this year.

Registration for boats is open now. Owners of boats participating (Instructors) please register for the event and complete the event declaration on the Registration Form or download and return the form which can be found here. We need at least 4 boats, and the more the better!

Exeter Heritage Harbour Festival 2026 (12 Sep 2026)

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

We have again been invited by the Exeter Heritage Trust and the Harbour Master. There will be lots of other activities going on in and around the Basin.

Details of the activities are being finalised but the initial, important information is that the maximum number of boats is 10, boats will be craned in and out free of charge.

We will be able to steam in the basin, up the river and down to the double lock on the canal. There will be free trailer and car parking.

Please only register if you are as sure as you can be that you will be attending!

This will be an SBA Type 2 Event. Organisers are Dave Biss and Gillie & Kevin Slater. Feel free to call us if you want more information before registering.

Kevin/Gillie: kevin@theslaters.net 0790 528 6711

Dave Biss: dave_biss@hotmail.com 01822 854433

Lay-up Rally and Supper 2026 (09 Oct 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

The Lay-up Rally is booked for Friday 9th October to Sunday 11th October 2026. Last year we changed it a bit, and it seemed to work, so the provisional programme will be:

Friday - launch and steam in the North Lake or Bowness Bay. As in previous years, bar snacks will be available at the RWYC in the evening.

Saturday - steam in the South Lake, with lunch at Fell Foot: picnic or pay-as-you-go at the café. Return for the Lay-up Supper at the RWYC in the evening - a menu choice form will be available in due course.

Sunday - Steam in the North Lake. Visit Windermere Jetty Museum at lunchtime; picnic or pay-as-you-go at the café. Return to the Yacht Club to haul out.

A brief description of steaming on Windermere for those unfamiliar with the lake can be found here.

Registration is now open!

Please indicate on the registration form if you expect to want bar snacks on the Friday - no commitment.

Launching facilities for small boats will be available at RWYC, others can launch at the Ferry Nab. All boats must have a Windermere registration, which can be obtained on-line or from the Lake District National Park office in Kendal. It can no longer be bought at the slipway. All boats must submit a declaration. Either complete the details on the Registration Form or download it here, complete it and email it back to the organiser.

Please note the SBA Event Risk Assessment Lay-up 2026.pdf and a new experimental document, the Skippers Safety Briefing.

Location, launching and mooring information

Some suggestions for accommodation:

Accommodation2021.pdf

For further details, or to express an interest, contact Roger Calvert.

Event type 1

Key to event types

1 - SBA Organised Event (owner's declaration required)

2 - SBA organised participation in 3rd party's event (owner's declaration required)

In event types 1 and 2 the SBA organisers and SBA members are covered by the SBA Liability Insurance;

3 - private meeting of members with or without boats

4 - private, individual participation of members in 3rd party's event

5 - for information only