BCN Challenge 2026

[BCN Challenge]

Entry forms are now available for the 2026 BCN Challenge.

 

E-mail [email protected] for a form and information about the Challenge.

 

It will take place on Sat/Sun 23rd/24th May and the finishing point will be at Titford Pumphouse in a combined event with the BCNS Spring Rally.

 

The entry fee is £25 which includes a plaque.

 

Edited January 2 by BCN Challenge

[Tonka]

Can I clarify the bit where it states that you can start anywhere on the BCN 

[BCN Challenge]

4 minutes ago, Tonka said:

Can I clarify the bit where it states that you can start anywhere on the BCN 

You can start anywhere on the BCN but the condition that you can only score fully completed sections applies (as per the Information & Rules document).

 

Therefore you should start at one of junctions listed in the Route Planner/Cruise Log if you wish to maximise the number of points scored in the available time.

[Victor Vectis]

I don't wish to be awkward, but.........

Just looked in my diary and it says that Saturday is the 23rd and Sunday the 24th with the Bank Hoilday on the 25th.

[BCN Challenge]

1 minute ago, Victor Vectis said:

I don't wish to be awkward, but.........

Just looked in my diary and it says that Saturday is the 23rd and Sunday the 24th with the Bank Hoilday on the 25th.

Thanks for spotting that. Corrected it above (pending mods).

[Tonka]

Looking forward to seeing @Francis Herne's new yacht in the flesh.

[Francis Herne]

1 hour ago, Tonka said:

Looking forward to seeing @Francis Herne's new yacht in the flesh.

I'd be pleased but very, very surprised if she's ready for this year.

[robtheplod]

I've known about the challenge for a while, but how can i find out more about it - rules etc?  ta! 

Edited January 3 by robtheplod

[Tonka]

25 minutes ago, robtheplod said:

I've known about the challenge for a while, but how can i find out more about it - rules etc?  ta! 

Email Jonathan or ask a question on here. I am sure you will get an answer

[Francis Herne]

1 hour ago, robtheplod said:

I've known about the challenge for a while, but how can i find out more about it - rules etc?  ta! 

A short description is on this page and the 2024 rules are linked as an example at the bottom of it.

https://bcnsociety.com/bcns-marathon-challenge/

 

There isn't an example of the cruise log to be completed en route so I've attached the 2025 version to this post.

 

The 2026 rules will differ slightly and haven't yet been released by Jon, so the older documents are only to get a general idea.

 

BCN Challenge Cruise Log 2025.xlsx

Edited January 3 by Francis Herne

[Rob-M]

1 hour ago, robtheplod said:

I've known about the challenge for a while, but how can i find out more about it - rules etc?  ta! 

In brief, start somewhere on the BCN at 8am on Saturday and finish at Titford Pump House at 2pm Sunday boating for 24hrs with a 6hr rest.  Points scored for miles and locks with bonus points for size of crew and different multipliers for the lesser used parts of the BCN.  Then have a few beers Sunday evening.

[Victor Vectis]

1 hour ago, robtheplod said:

I've known about the challenge for a while, but how can i find out more about it - rules etc?  ta! 

Take a look at 'Cruising the Cut' vlog, 301 and 302.

Features 'Melaleuca' and a number of parishioners of this 'ere parish.

[matty40s]

3 hours ago, Rob-M said:

In brief, start somewhere on the BCN at 8am on Saturday and finish at Titford Pump House at 2pm Sunday boating for 24hrs with a 6hr rest...

The rest can be taken in portions....at the start, at the end, or in the middle, and doesnt have to involve rest, it can also involve a decent bottle of malt and lots of giggling.

[tree monkey]

2 hours ago, matty40s said:

The rest can be taken in portions....at the start, at the end, or in the middle, and doesnt have to involve rest, it can also involve a decent bottle of malt and lots of giggling.

 

Which would be reckless if it was followed by a very early start

[David Mack]

2 hours ago, matty40s said:

The rest can be taken in portions....at the start, at the end, or in the middle, and doesnt have to involve rest, it can also involve a decent bottle of malt and lots of giggling.

Most boats take the 6 hours rest during the hours of darkness. But in past years, Fulbourne's crew have generally taken the rest during pub opening hours, with the crew then working shifts through the night. This is not necessarily the best approach!

[Stroudwater1]

9 hours ago, robtheplod said:

I've known about the challenge for a while, but how can i find out more about it - rules etc?  ta! 

Go for it Rob, it’s brilliant fun, good excuse to visit Titford and the pools plus a general visit to places you probably wouldn’t get to otherwise. Some crews have more than 6 hours rest BTW 😉

 

Francis and others have described it well. 

[Victor Vectis]

Yeahbut.....

 

There will be trouble if you beat team 'Red Wharf' for the oh so coveted second last place!

😃

Any idiot can come last, but it takes courage, determination and months of planning, not to mention much drinking of tea, to achieve our goal!

[matty40s]

6 hours ago, David Mack said:

Most boats take the 6 hours rest during the hours of darkness. But in past years, Fulbourne's crew have generally taken the rest during pub opening hours, with the crew then working shifts through the night. This is not necessarily the best approach!

The part of the Tawny Owl crew I was in did as described and I was then left in charge of the tiller on the Curley Wireley in a storm and down the Walsall until we had to stop for lock gate clearance at 5am..

[Ange]

We'd love to be at the end point this year. Does anyone local know whether there's anywhere within staggering distance that we could park our motorhome?

It looks on Google like there's an industrial estate close.

[Kiwidad]

12 hours ago, matty40s said:

The rest can be taken in portions....at the start, at the end, or in the middle, and doesnt have to involve rest, it can also involve a decent bottle of malt and lots of giggling.

It did indeed involve all of the above

[Tom and Bex]

18 hours ago, matty40s said:

The rest can be taken in portions....at the start, at the end, or in the middle, and doesnt have to involve rest, it can also involve a decent bottle of malt and lots of giggling.

I'm sure the rules around this has changed and it's now expected you take all the 6hrs rest in one go. Can still take it all at the start, end, or any time in the middle!

 

We have split the rest before, taking a 2hr later start to allow others to get ahead and refill the empty pounds in the morning, another evening pub stop, then boating though the night, but don't think this is allowed by current rules. 

[David Mack]

The 2024 rules on the BCNS website allow you to split the 6 hours rest as long as you have time stamped photos of the boat moored up at the beginning and end of each rest period.

[Rob-M]

Taking a reasonable break during the night is encouraged for safety reasons.

[Tonka]

2 or 3 years ago there was a team that started at 8am on the Saturday and went for 24 hours to get to the finish point where they then took their 6 hour break.

Think they did ask permission though

 

Just copied this from 2026 rules

"1.      The Challenge will start at 8.00am on Saturday and finish at 2.00pm on Sunday.  Participants may navigate for as long as they like during the 30 hour period up to a maximum of 24 hours.  It is the responsibility of all boat crews to navigate safely and to ensure that the members of the crew operating the boat do not become overtired and remain competent to navigate their craft. Crews may self-declare one stop of up to 6 hours duration on their cruising log. If a crew wish to make more than one stop to contribute toward the 6 hours of non-cruising time then for each additional stop they must submit time-stamped digital photographs clearly showing the boat fully moored on fore and aft lines in a suitable location at the beginning and end of their stay. The duration of time between the photographs will be considered as the duration of the stop. Failure to submit this evidence will render the stop invalid and the equivalent cruising time to be lost."

Edited January 4 by Tonka
text added

[BCN Challenge]

The rules were tightened up in response to cruise logs being submitted with many short stops constituting a total of six hours. Thereby suggesting that natural delays when cruising, such as visits to the weedhatch or delays when boats ahead get stuck, were being counted as rest periods when they weren’t really being used for that purpose.

 

The rule about having to properly moor and submit evidence is intended to accommodate things such as a stop for a pint or two at the Manor Arms on Saturday evening while discouraging claiming of enforced stops due to operational issues as rest.

 

There are no absolute rules beyond only being able to score points for 24 hours of cruising.