Welcome to this edition of the Camboaters newsletter. We hope you’ve all had a brilliant summer and are prepared for the chillier weather. A special welcome to all the new boaters who have recently arrived - we hope you are enjoying life afloat in Cambridge! We will be holding an Autumn Social on Thursday 25th October at 8pm, The Waterman Pub
Outcomes of our Meeting with the Conservators
Come along to catch up with fellow boaters. New faces very welcome!
On the 18th Sept some of the Committee met with the Cam Conservators. We had hoped that the City Council would also attend but they sent their apologies. However, it was still a productive meeting
As it’s close to Hallowe’en, we’ll be holding a pumpkin carving competition. Bring along your pumpkin (or photo of it next to your boat if it’s too big to carry!) to be in with a chance of winning tasty prizes! The Social will be preceded by our AGM at 7pm. All welcome. If you are interested in getting involved with the committee, come along. We would love to see some new faces on the Committee – all you need is enthusiasm!
• They confirmed that daily checks are now being carried out on the moorings, with photos of overstayers and illegal moorers sent to the Council and the Cam Con. • It is likely that the option to pay licences monthly will be introduced next April • The Cam Con are having their property portfolio assessed independently to decide how best to maximise income. • The Cam Con have agreed to deliver an annual newsletter for us, which will arrived with your registration packs next year, to hopefully reach even more boaters. • We’ll meet with the Cam Con and the Council twice a year from now on. • The next meeting with be on February 5 th at 6pm For a more detailed report of the meeting, visit www.camboaters.co.uk
If you would like to add your details to the Camboaters contacts list (we only use this on rare occasions for very important/urgent information such as your boat being in danger or emergency meetings) email camboaters.committee@gmail.com or text 07828763885
Visit www.camboaters.co.uk for •
the latest news
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the messageboard to share info, ads etc (you can also subscribe to this via email)
Mooring up your boat In the recent floods, several boats had to be rescued because mooring ropes had been tied too tightly. Here’s a few bits of advice taken from the Canal and Rivers Trust/Environment Agency’s Boater’s Handbook (See http://is.gd/boatershandbook), to keep in mind for the coming winter. “On rivers, you should always moor with the front of your boat facing upstream or into a very strong wind. So, if you’re heading downstream, you’ll need to pass the mooring and turn your boat around. Allow for the fact that the water level may rise or fall by several feet, by leaving slack in your ropes and allowing them to move through the loop on your pins. Leaving slack is especially important on rivers - if the ropes are too tight and the water level drops, your boat could be left hanging from the bank. Flood poles can also be used to prevent boats rising up and getting caught on the bank. To keep your boat secure, you need to tie it to the bank with a rope from both the front and the back. On rivers, you should fix your upstream rope first. Many mooring sites have bollards or rings to tie up to – choose ones a short distance beyond the front and the back of your boat. Run your ropes at about 45º from your boat, loop them back onto the boat and tie securely, but not too tightly. Avoid tying directly on to your pins, so that you can slacken them off if the pin becomes submerged. To stop your boat moving backwards and forwards in flowing water, you can use ‘springs’ – see example below. Don’t use the centre rope for mooring – if the water level rises, centre ropes can pull boats over dangerously and cause water to get in to low level inlets. **We saw several boats pulled over dangerously by tight centre ropes during the recent floods - Camboaters**
If there aren’t any bollards or rings, use your mooring pins, but check the stability of the bank before you start hammering. Knock them in to at least three-quarters their length and make sure they’re firm and angled away from the boat. Ensure that the rope is looped around the shaft of the pin itself rather than relying on the strength of the weld holding the loop onto the pin. Hammer an additional pin through the loop of the first one for extra strength. Check them regularly to make sure they are still strong in the ground.” A few reminders: •
From 1st October until March, navigation on the Backs above Jesus Lock is again permitted. Call the Cam Con to arrange: 01223 863785/ river.manager@camconservators.org.uk
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From early October onwards, novice rowers will be out in force. Keep an eye out for them and report any incidents to the Cam Con.
•
This year’s fireworks will be held on Monday 5th November at 7:30pm. Boats from Cutter Ferry bridge to half way down the Common will be asked to move from the fall-out zone.
Kindling
Cycle Auction and Sale Vintage to Modern Cycle Auction, Table Top Sale, Cycle Accessories. Public Viewing, Bike Jumble & Sales: Saturday 6th October 2012 – 1pm-5pm Auction Day: Sunday 7th October – 10am to 4pm. Auction starts at 11am.
Dry, recycled softwood kindling £1 per supermarket carrier bag full (can be delivered to your boat)
@ Cambridge Museum of Technology Entry Free. £2 fee for bidding registration.
Contact James 07724 056 240 We also have some spare Taybrite in our garage. £10 per 25kg bag
Steve’s Coal We have 22 solid fuel products for sale to suit everyone’s needs. Maxiheat in 25kg bags - £9.30 (discount given the more you buy) Superbrite in 25kg bags - £10.80 (discount given the more you buy) We also have Taybrite, Supertherm, Homefire, Stoveheat, Maxibrite, Anth small nuts, Anth large nuts Homefire ovals, Newflame and more If you would to talk about products and deliveries please call Rosemary (or, as some of the boaters know her, Mouse) 01366 381 387
Diary -Events in bold have navigation restrictions in place. All others allow boaters to proceed with caution. Date
Event
Location
Time
27/09/2012
National Competition Fishing Match
Penny Ferry Chesterton to Clayhithe
09:00 to 16:00 hr
29/09/2012
Youth Topper Banham Cup race 4
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
14:30 to 16:00 hr
29/09/2012
Optimist Cam Shield race 4
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
14:35 to 16:00 hr
30/09/2012
DSF Pennant race 4
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
11:30 to 13:00 hr
30/09/2012
Piggott Cup race 2
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
14:30 to 16:00 hr
06/10/2012
Cambridge Small Boats Head
Baits Bite to Chesterton footbridge Divisions at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30
09:30 to 15:00 hr
06/10/2012
Optimist Cam Shield race 5
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
14:35 to 16:00 hr
06/10/2012
Youth Topper Banham Cup race 5
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
14:30 to 16:00 hr
07/10/2012
DSF Pennant race 5
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
11:30 to 13:00 hr
07/10/2012
Piggott Cup race 3
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
14:30 to 16:00 hr
14/10/2012
Piggott Cup race 4
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
14:30 to 16:00 hr
14/10/2012
DSF Pennant race 6
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
11:30 to 13:00 hr
20/10/2012
Cambridge Autumn Head
Baits Bite to Chesterton footbridge
09:30 to 15:00 hr
20/10/2012
Youth Topper Banham Cup race 6
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
14:30 to 16:00 hr
20/10/2012
Optimist Cam Shield race 6
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
14:35 to 16:00 hr
21/10/2012
DSF Pennant race 7
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
11:30 to 13:00 hr
21/10/2012
Piggott Cup race 5
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
14:30 to 16:00 hr
21/10/2012
Winter League Match
Penny Ferry Chesterton to Clayhithe
09:00 to 16:00
27/10/2012
Optimist & Topper youth sailing
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
14:30 to 17:00 hr
28/10/2012
Winter League Match
Penny Ferry Chesterton to Clayhithe
09:00 to 16:00 hr
28/10/2012
DSF Pennant race 8
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
11:00 to 12:30 hr
28/10/2012
Piggott Cup race 6
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
14:00 to 15:30 hr
29/10/2012
University Fours
13.45 - 16.00 hr
30/10/2012
University Fours
13.45 - 16.00 hr
31/10/2012
University Fours
13.45 - 16.00 hr
01/11/2012
University Fours
13.45 - 16.00 hr
02/11/2012
University Fours
13.45 - 16.00 hr
03/11/2012
University Fours
13.45 - 16.00 hr
04/11/2012
Foundling Cup race 2
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
14:00 to 15:30 hr
04/11/2012
Foundling Cup race 1
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
11:00 to 12:30 hr
04/11/2012
University Fours
13.45 - 16.00 hr
05/11/2012
University Fours
13.45 - 16.00 hr
17/11/2012
Cambridge Winter Head
18/11/2012
Emma Sprints
11.00 - 16.30 hr
22/11/2012
Clare Novices Regatta
13.45 - dusk
23/11/2012
Clare Novices Regatta
13.45 - dusk
Baits Bite to Chesterton footbridge Divisions at 08:00, 10:15, 11:40, 12:05 and 14:30
07:30 to 15:00 hr
24/11/2012
Clare Novices Regatta
8.30 - dusk
29/11/2012
Fairbairn Cup Races
9.00 - dusk
30/11/2012
Fairbairn Cup Races
9.00 - dusk
01/12/2012
Christmas Head Race
Penny Ferry to Goldie Boathouse Divisions at 11:00, 12:30 and 14:00
10:30 to 14:30 hr
26/12/2012
Frostbite Spoon Race
Waterbeach to Bottisham Lock
11:30 to 13:00 hr
02/02/2013
Newnham Short Course
11.00 - 16.00 hr
08/02/2013
Robinson Head
13.45 - 16.00 hr
16/02/2013
Pembroke Regatta
8.30 - dusk