More complaints against the rowers

Published: Monday, 07 June 2010

THERE have been more complaints against the rowers on the Cam in Cambridge about speeding.

This time it is from boaters, after rowers have been chasing each other up and down the river as fast as they can, causing moored boat to rock, with resulting complaints.

Annual tradition

It is college students practising for the annual tradition of college crews chasing each other down the river until one bumps the other, which was started in the 19th century as side-by-side racing on the Cam, which is now no longer wide enough.

 

Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs (CUCBC) was sent a letter by the Conservators of the River Cam complaining that crews had been using 'excessive speed' during evening sessions.

Philippa Noon, River Manager for the Conservators, told that boats were being 'rocked violently' by rowers going  downstream at speed. When one boat owner, who was working below on his engine, asked them to slow down, they did the opposite by going flat out on their return.