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Scottish Sun
21-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Iconic tourist attraction could vanish forever in huge blow to one of UK's most popular destinations
AN ICONIC tourist attraction in one of the UK's most popular cities could soon be extinct. Punting on the charming River Cam in Cambridge could soon be a thing of the past as the organisation managing the time-honoured tradition warns it could collapse within twelve months. 1 Punting along the River Cam in Cambridge could soon become an activity of the past Credit: Alamy CamCon, who act as the Conservators of the River Cam, says it is "in crisis" and may become "unviable and inoperative" without urgent financial intervention, The Times reports. The crisis centres on two lock islands essential for regulating water levels and which are at urgent risk of collapse. Their potential demise could mean the the famed Backs - which offers punters a scenic view of King's College and other landmarks - could soon be rendered "a measly, muddy trickle" which won't be able to support flat-bottomed boats which accommodate tourists. David Goode, CamCon's chairman, has highlighted that both Jesus Lock island and Baits Bite Lock, situated a few miles up the river, face an "imminent danger of collapse". "If it was imminent a year ago it's not going to get better," he added. "On the river stretch along the Backs between Mill Pond and Jesus Lock the water level is held artificially high by the sluice gates at the lock." The historic city heavily relies on the industry for waving in thousands of domestic and international visitors annually. Beyond the punting industry, university rowing clubs will also be affected as the Cam could soon become overgrown with weeds. David continued: "There would be a lot of consequences: the loss of punting, exposing of the foundation of college walls and the devastating impact to the appeal and economy of Cambridge." Provisional financial support to stabilise the river could cost in excess of £1.5million, while permanent aid would require more than £10million per structure. Oxford and Cambridge's chief coaches share how they're feeling ahead of The Boat Race Anne Miller, co-chair of the Cam Valley Forum which advocates for river conservation, called on the colleges to step up their efforts. 'If the river is fetid sludge the tourists aren't going to want to come; the colleges along the river are going to suffer," she said. 'We are a techy city. We've got loads of billionaires, wealthy colleges, wealthy businesses from Microsoft to AstraZeneca. "If everybody puts a chunk in a kitty we can get this sorted." The Sun Online has reached out to Cambridge County Council for comment. How to enjoy a river punt on the Cam Nothing is as quintessentially 'Cambridge' as floating down the River Cam in a wooden punt. It's the best way to view the city's most famous buildings, as many of these are spread along the banks of the river and cannot be seen from the centre of town. Punting is also the only way to see all the stunning bridges which give the city its name, including the Bridge of Sighs and the Mathematical Bridge (which, according to urban legend, was constructed using no nuts or bolts). You can get a chauffeured tour complete with a guide or simply rent your own, but be warned, first-timers are known to occasionally fall in. Don't worry if you're visiting during the colder months — punting firms will equip you with blankets to stay warm and umbrellas in case of bad luck with the weather. Prices vary by season and by company, but guided tours on a shared boat cost around £15-30 per person for adults and roughly £10 for kids. If you fancy a go at pushing the punt yourself, it will cost between £24-£36 per hour.
The Irish Sun
21-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Iconic tourist attraction could vanish forever in huge blow to one of UK's most popular destinations
AN ICONIC tourist attraction in one of the UK's most popular cities could soon be extinct. 1 Punting along the River Cam in Cambridge could soon become an activity of the past Credit: Alamy CamCon, who act as the Conservators of the River Cam, says it is "in crisis" and may become "unviable and inoperative" without urgent financial intervention, The Times The crisis centres on two lock islands essential for regulating water levels and which are at urgent risk of collapse. Their potential demise could mean the the famed Backs - which offers punters a scenic view of King's College and other landmarks - could soon be rendered "a measly, muddy trickle" which won't be able to support flat-bottomed boats which accommodate tourists. David Goode, CamCon's chairman, has highlighted that both Jesus Lock island and Baits Bite Lock, situated a few miles up the river, face an "imminent danger of collapse". read more in news "If it was imminent a year ago it's not going to get better," he added. "On the river stretch along the Backs between Mill Pond and Jesus Lock the water level is held artificially high by the sluice gates at the lock." The historic city heavily relies on the industry for waving in thousands of domestic and international visitors annually. Beyond the punting industry, university rowing clubs will also be affected as the Cam could soon become overgrown with weeds. Most read in The Sun David continued: "There would be a lot of consequences: the loss of punting, exposing of the foundation of college walls and the devastating impact to the appeal and economy of Cambridge." Provisional financial support to stabilise the river could cost in excess of £1.5million, while permanent aid would require more than £10million per structure. Oxford and Cambridge's chief coaches share how they're feeling ahead of The Boat Race Anne Miller, co-chair of the Cam Valley Forum which advocates for river conservation, called on the colleges to step up their efforts. 'If the river is fetid sludge the tourists aren't going to want to come; the colleges along the river are going to suffer," she said. 'We are a techy city. We've got loads of billionaires, wealthy colleges, wealthy businesses from Microsoft to AstraZeneca. "If everybody puts a chunk in a kitty we can get this sorted." The Sun Online has reached out to Cambridge County Council for comment. How to enjoy a river punt on the Cam Nothing is as quintessentially 'Cambridge' as floating down the River Cam in a wooden punt. It's the best way to view the city's most famous buildings, as many of these are spread along the banks of the river and cannot be seen from the centre of town. Punting is also the only way to see all the stunning bridges which give the city its name, including the You can get a chauffeured tour complete with a guide or simply rent your own, but be warned, first-timers are known to occasionally fall in. Don't worry if you're visiting during the colder months — punting firms will equip you with blankets to stay warm and umbrellas in case of bad luck with the weather. Prices vary by season and by company, but guided tours on a shared boat cost around £15-30 per person for adults and roughly £10 for kids. If you fancy a go at pushing the punt yourself, it will cost between £24-£36 per hour.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Countdown to the World Pilot Gig Championships 2025
'The Boat Race' may be over, but there is a much bigger one taking place on the Isles of Scilly over this bank holiday weekend. Forget 16 rowers in two boats on a river and imagine more than 3,000 rowers in 130 boats on the Atlantic Ocean. The World Pilot Gig Championships is a fiercely competitive series of rowing races in Cornish Pilot Gigs. Rivalries are as fierce as on the Thames, with last year's winners River Fowey women and Looe men determined to hold onto the coveted trophies. Last year's winners will be hoping to retain their titles (Image: Cornish Pilot Gig Association) All crews will have submitted themselves to gruelling training programmes throughout challenging winter conditions. Some 452 crews will be taking part this year, with four gig rowing clubs from the Netherlands travelling the furthest to be there. It takes two months for the Scillonian ferry and a freighter to bring all the boats to the islands. Gigs lined up ready to race (Image: Cornish Pilot Gig Association) This is the 34th championships, with the event starting in 1990 and taking a two-year break during the pandemic. 'This is a truly spectacular event with some of the long races having more than 100 boats on a mile-long start line. It brings thousands to the islands to take part and spectate,' said Tristan Hick, chairman of the World Pilot Gig Championships, as the islands prepare for the influx of visitors. 'From young rowers just starting out, to seasoned veterans, spectators, and the top-tier athletes who push the sport to its limits – there's a tangible sense of unity, tradition, and excitement that reminds us all why this event is so special. 'We're proud to share our heritage and islands with the world.' Teams ready for the off (Image: Cornish Pilot Gig Association) The event is based on St Mary's, the largest of the five inhabited Isles of Scilly, which are 28 miles off Lands End. Gigs are 32 foot long, traditionally built open wooden boats rowed by six crew and steered by a coxswain. The sport has grown enormously since its revival in the 80s, and there are now 8,000 rowers in 90 clubs spread across the UK, with more in Europe and America. This weekend's racing starts on Friday morning (May 2) and finishes on Sunday afternoon (May 4). Last year's Ladies' winners Fowey (Image: Cornish Pilot Gig Association) Races will be streamed on YouTube (weather permitting) via Among the clubs locally taking part will be Falmouth Pilot Gig Club, and rower Jordan Smith said: 'Falmouth's men's and ladies' squads are heading into the 2025 World Pilot Gig Championships on the Isles of Scilly with depth, determination, and momentum. 'After months of hard training, the club is proud to be fielding the maximum number of crews across multiple race categories — proof of the strength and growth of the squad as a whole.' The Falmouth Men's Squad came together on April 11 to round off the main phase of their pre-season training with a final on-water session around Falmouth Docks. This year marks a major achievement for the squad, as they've qualified the maximum number of racing boats. Three Open crews will represent Falmouth at the Championships, alongside entries in the Veterans, Super Vets, and Masters categories. The Veterans will head into the weekend as defending World Champions, hoping to replicate last year's dramatic win. The Men's A crew enters the competition as current County Champions, while the ever-improving Men's B crew and the strong Falmouth Masters squad are also expected to perform well. Special mention goes to the Super Vets and Men's C crews, who've navigated more last-minute changes than usual but have pulled together impressively in recent weeks. Falmouth Gig Club have been busy preparing (Image: Falmouth Gig Club) Since September, both land and water-based training has been in full swing, with the A and B crews alone racking up over 2,000 sessions. Competition for places has been fierce. The Falmouth Ladies' Squad has trained every bit as hard as their male counterparts, showing fierce commitment across the board. This year, four crews will represent Falmouth in the Women's category. The Ladies A crew features a fresh combination, blending experienced rowers — including former finalists and World Pilot Gig champions—with new talent making their Scilly debut. The Ladies B crew has shown consistent improvement throughout the season. With a solid core of returning rowers, they've developed well as a unit and will be aiming to make their mark in the competition. Joining them are the Ladies Development crew, made up largely of very new rowers who are already defying expectations. As a true unknown quantity, they head into the Championships with the potential to surprise — and could well emerge as dark horses. Also competing in the Open are the reigning Veterans World Champions, the Ladies' Vets crew. After a dominant win last year, they return to defend their title — and their entry into the Women's open shows just how competitive and ambitious this crew remains. The Ladies' Vets B crew will also represent Falmouth in the Veterans category, reflecting their dedication both on and off the water. They're joined by the Ladies' Masters, a crew full of experience and intent, with a clear goal in mind for the weekend.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southampton firms provide electric boats for historic Boat Race
Two Hampshire businesses made history by providing electric boats to support The Boat Race. RAD Propulsion and RS Electric Boats, supplied the electric vessels for the first time to support the Reserves' Boat Races and Veterans' Races on Saturday and Sunday. The electric boats from RAD Propulsion, based in Hamble, and zero-emission Pulse 63 RIB from RS Electric Boats, were used as support vessels in the historic race. These locally developed vessels highlight Southampton's thriving maritime technology sector, according to the businesses. Dan Hook, CEO of RAD Propulsion, said: "For RAD and RS Electric to be supporting such a historic event is a proud moment for our businesses and for Southampton. "We're showing that local innovation can have a national impact, and we hope to see more and more electric boats in the UK's waterways in the future." The Port of London Authority has backed the switch to electric vessels, signalling a shift towards cleaner transport on the Thames. On race day, the locally built vessels carried umpires, officials, and live stream camera operators, ensuring smooth operations and showcasing the potential of electric propulsion. Alex Newton-Southon, CEO of RS Electric Boats, said: "We are incredibly proud to see the Pulse 63 electric RIBs supporting such an iconic sporting event. "This collaboration demonstrates how electric boating can enhance performance and reliability while promoting cleaner waterways for future generations." This milestone highlights the strength of Southampton's maritime industry and the growing role of local businesses in the UK's move towards a sustainable future. Cambridge completed a clean sweep of the prestigious races, winning the men's, women's and both reserve races. It was expected to be a tight battle in the 170th men's edition, but instead the light blue boat built up an early lead and never looked back, shocking an Oxford boat stacked with several Olympians to win their third consecutive men's race by five-and-a-half lengths. Like in 2024, there were also worries about water quality after concerning levels of the E. coli bacteria were found along the course in the weeks leading up to the event.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cambridge University SMASH Oxford in 170th Boat Race
Cambridge University smashed Oxford University in the 170th Boat Race. The race was delayed by ten minutes after some debris was spotted in the water, which was a bit of wood. After complaints from the teams, time passed as they waited for debris to pass the boats before the race began. READ MORE: Oxford University beaten by Cambridge University in women's Boat Race The 170th Boat Race goes to the @Cambridge_Uni Men's Crew! 🏆 — The Boat Race (@theboatrace) April 13, 2025 Both teams started strong with adrenaline pumping, and the first minute saw both teams blast off from the starting blocks. Cambridge started to pull in front after five minutes ahead of the Hammersmith Bridge checkpoint. The Dark Blues could not catch up with their bitter rivals, who stormed to a comprehensive victory on the day. READ MORE: Oxford University's Emma Watson left staff 'breathless' in shop visit Cambridge Men's President Luca Ferraro lifts the trophy with the rest of the team. (Image: John Walton / PA) Cambridge Men's President Luca Ferraro lifted the trophy alongside the rest of the team following the confident performance. Oxford had only won one out of the last six races, with that solitary victory coming in 2022 The Light Blues have now won seven of the last nine races, showing a real dominance in recent years. MORE TO FOLLOW
