Event Report: 2026 Coronation Cruise & Escort of the Historic ‘Severn’
Date: Saturday, 16th May 2026
Location: Wardleys Yacht Club to Old ICI Factory
We are delighted to report that our 2026 “Coronation Cruise” was a resounding success! The weather, the turnout, and the incredible sight of maritime history on the river made it a truly memorable day for the club.
A Diverse Fleet on the Water
It was fantastic to see such a great response from the membership. Around 10 Wardleys members took to the water to form our welcoming committee, bringing out a wonderfully diverse mini-rally of vessels. Our escort fleet featured everything from cruising yachts and dinghies to the trusty tenders, proving that you don’t need a massive boat to enjoy a great day out in company on the river.
The Rendezvous
The day went exactly to plan. The fleet successfully assembled in the river near the creek entrance at 10:15 AM. From there, we enjoyed a group sail northwards under the cables toward the old ICI factory before turning back south. We held our position at the south end of the club moorings, eagerly awaiting our guest of honour.
Right on schedule, around 11:00 AM, the ancient and recently restored classic yacht Severn made her approach on her journey from Skippool to Fleetwood.
Meeting the ‘Severn’
To say the Severn looked magnificent would be an understatement; she was a stunning sight on the water. Her crew was visibly thrilled to see the Wardleys fleet waiting for them, and they were incredibly appreciative that we came out to accompany her down the river.
The wind on the day wasn’t particularly strong, but it was more than sufficient to fill the Severn’s classic sails. In fact, she proved to be surprisingly swift! She moved quietly but rapidly through the water—so much so that our “modern” cruising yachts actually struggled to keep pace under sail and had to humbly resort to firing up their engines to keep up with the historic vessel!
A Warm Exchange
As we escorted her towards Fleetwood, it was wonderful to see the camaraderie between the boats. The hard-working crew of the Severn shared wide smiles and waves with the Wardleys members who pulled up alongside to say hello, warmly thanking us for organising the mini-rally and joining them on their journey.
Following our escort, the Wardleys fleet turned back around the ICI factory as planned, heading home after a fantastic morning on the water.
The Post-Cruise Barbecue
The day didn’t end when we got back to the shore! Once the fleet was safely moored, members gathered to refuel and share stories from the morning. A massive shout-out goes to Ian Brown, who took charge of the grill and absolutely excelled. He kept everyone well-fed, providing an impressive spread of first-rate, full-bore, quarter-pound beef burgers and succulent sausages. It was the perfect conclusion to a fantastic day on the water.
A big thank you to everyone (particularly John Bradbury who organised the event) who brought their boats out, offered berths to fellow members, and helped make this year’s Coronation Cruise such a brilliant showcase of the Wardleys Yacht Club spirit. Here’s to many more club sails this season!
