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Women find calm and joy on the city's oldest canal

Harry Low & Wendy Hurrell
BBC News
Oar and Explore Ruhana Ali smiles in a white canoe with red and black oar on the canalOar and Explore
Ruhana Ali says being on the water "brings a sense of joy"

"When you actually get out on the water, it's amazing, it's really calm, it just gives you a sense of joy."

Ruhana Ali is one of the of Oar and Explore, an all-woman boat club which operates on the Limehouse Cut, London's oldest canal.

More than 120 women, mostly Muslim or global majority, are part of the east London club, which started as a pilot two years ago.

"What's really amazing about this boat club is we've got women in all shapes and sizes dressed however they want to dress as comfortably as they can and they're out on the water and they're enjoying it," Ms Ali adds.

Oar and Explore Line of 10 women in blue and red life jackets hold oarsOar and Explore
Most of the are Muslim

She added: "I think that's what's really wonderful about our community and that's what's really wonderful about London, actually, that you can try new things as crazy as they are and really have a good time.

"We get waves, we get funny looks when we're on the water like 'what are those strange group of ladies doing":[]}