Sunk boat Abingdon

[Fuzrat]

Boat sunk just downstream of The Anchor, Abingdon. Just about where the bouys are for the sandbank. About a dozen blokes on the booze came past us in a possibly Shetland 19ft ish boat when we were in the Nags Head garden yesterday afternoon. All sitting on the bow/roof steering with their feet. Mate says to me thats gonna end in tears, text me this morning to say it was sunk. Had a mooch up this morning with the camera. Apparently they all did a runner. Doubt very much if was registered or insured so the EA will have to pick up the tab for dragging it out I would think :mad-new:

 

[Fuzrat]

According to a local FB page they were "Doing doughnuts at speed until it lurched over and the cockpit flooded" Police, Ambulance and Fire attended but they had already legged it.

 

[Actionmat]

The combined financial cost to the local services plus removal cost to the EA will be huge. I'm sure people were better behaved on the river when there was a Police presence. Someone told me that the old copper on this stretch hadn't made an arrest for years, perhaps his presence was an effective deterrent, because nothing is stopping the bellends now. A speedboat passed us yesterday and it was on the plane, with a young lady up the front taking a selfie!

 

[abitwit]

The Abingdon part of the Thames is relatively un-policed by anyone, including the Environment Agency. The rental boats are unfit for purpose and create wash at even low speeds and especially when overloaded with drunks which they frequently are. The rowing clubs coach boats ignore speeding rules when not coaching and the Oxford University Colleges (St Johns, Baliol, UNIV etc. etc.) abuse the privilege of using this part of the Thames by Abingdon Rowing Club facilities at unsociable hours in the morning, waking any overnight mooring boats. Wilsham road moorings are a disgrace with unlicensed boats moored there, and so on .................. Abingdon needs to get its act together. Such a beautiful part of the Thames with much history to attract visitors.

 

[Fuzrat]

Agreed, its my local slipway (mine is a trailer queen) love mooring up for a pint at the Nags or heading up to the Kings at Sanford for a spot of lunch but its a nightmare with the hire stuff and rowers. We tend to drop her in at Cholsey these days and head down towards the Swan at Pangbourne for lunch these days, much quieter

It was till there yesterday evening but looks like someone made a half arsed attempt to drag it. Now completely submerged, on its side and bow facing up stream. Good job that blue fender is floating, as its pretty much in the middle of the channel.

 

[abitwit]

Its been moved alongside the bank now. We'll see how long it stays there. Starting to look like a tip in this part of the river.

 

[miket]

Last year we visited Abingdon and thought how seedy it was looking in the centre.

 

[abitwit]

It gets worse, 2 boats stolen during the week, Biggles (large barge) and run aground. Another stolen and 3 more broken into. Abingdon is becoming a place to avoid. No police, no Environment Agency and no one cares. Such a shame.

 

[dash300]

All sounds very sad. Abingdon was always one of our 'get to' moorings on the way up from Weybridge. I certainly don't miss the rowers and the speeding coaching cats now we are down on the briny. We do have a plan to chug back up the coast to revisit old Thames haunts and friends but we do realise that the river may not be what it once was. Yet we have only been away from it for 4 years. We used to regularly have the Shepperton Police Boat moor up for a cuppa and a chat. They didn't have a lot to do but they were a presence and dealt with what the eyes and ears of boaters and riparians saw as of concern.