Complaints after Cambridge coxes and crews cause a commotion on the Cam

HOUSEBOAT owners have complained that Cambridge University rowers are waking them up by using their megaphones during early morning training sessions.

Geoff and Andie Page, whose boat is moored on the River Cam in Cambridge, wrote a letter of complaint to Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs (CUCBC). Mr Page said: “I wish to bring to your attention the noise from coaches shouting at crews over residential boats and some coxes using amplified instructions before 7.30am which is causing a nuisance.

“This morning the river was in chaos and rowing eights were unable to move for long periods of time which clearly exacerbated the matter.

“The boats were unable to move be- cause they are novice crews and in some (all?) novice coxes trying to navigate whilst earlier crews were attempting to return upstream to their boathouses.

“More experienced crews have also taken to launching their boats at 6am to 6.15am and the noise they generate is another matter of complaint.

“Why do colleges have a boat full of novices and not include more experienced senior rowers – this seems to be a simple and common sense fix to help prevent novices bouncing off moored boats, banks and each others’ boats.”

Jed Ramsay, river manager for the Conservators of the River Cam, urged the rowers to keep to the rules and tackle the problems impacting on houseboat dwellers.

He said: “The Cam is arguably the busiest river in the UK, and so consideration for other users is key if we are all to make the best use out of the river. I’d expect the boat clubs to deal with this issue and stick to their own rules that are designed to minimise this type of conflict.”

A CUCBC spokesman said: “We take seriously any breaches of our rules and can punish crews who break them.

“At the start of each term all crews are made aware of the need to keep noise to a minimum and their responsibility to be considerate to other river users.

“We will ask all college captains to remind their crews of the rules; particularly those relating to early morning outings.”