Boat war on the Cam

BOTH narrowboats and plastic boats are being accused of starting a 'boat war' on rowers on the Cam in Cambridge.

Owners of powered boats on the river have been accused of a 'bloody-minded' attitude to rowers, according to reports to the Cam Conservators.

Narrowboats untied

The report states that powered boat owners are either failing to give way to rowers or not reducing their speed or wash when passing. However narrowboats have been deliberately untied from their moorings and left to drift down river.

It is however not only powered boat involved, as one particular report states:

'Two Rob Roy junior sculls were sparring upstream beside the boathouses and failed to give way to a Peterhouse novice double scull travelling in the opposite direction. The Peterhouse crew drifted out of their lane and were shouted at by the Rob's coach, upsetting the novice pair'.

There has always been animosity on the Cam, particularly with the college crews and the 'others'.