A
punt is a flat bottomed boat which does
not have a keel and is propelled by means
of a long wooden pole. The basic design
was developed in Medieval times to provide
an extremely stable boat which could be
used in areas with shallow water. Until
the late nineteenth century, punts were
commercial craft used by reed cutters,
fisherman and fowlers who worked in the
marshy Fenlands to the north of Cambridge.
Pleasure punts were then introduced to
Cambridge in Edwardian times where 'reaching
for the pole' became a familar site throughout
the famous city.
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| Guide
to Punting |
Punting is one of Cambridge’s
oldest traditions. For the last
hundred years students, and
more recently visitors, have
been having fun on the river.
It is easy to see why it is
so popular, the river not only
meanders upstream through open
meadows to the village of Grantchester,
but also flows past some of
the most beautiful and historic
sights in all England
You
don't know how to punt?
Fortunately, hardly anyone else
does either, so you won't look
out of place. Scroll down for
some instructions...
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The
easy bit; |
Stand
on the flat platform at the back
end of the punt. Lift up the pole
until it's almost out of the water,
and drop it vertically into the
water at the side of the punt.
Because the pole is made of wood
it floats naturally, so you need
to lift it right out of the water
for it to go all the way down
to the bottom when you drop it.
The river is never particularly
deep (until you reach the meadows),
and it should go about half way
down before hitting gravel or
mud. Bear in mind that the closer
the pole is to the side of the
punt, the less the punt will turn
when you push with the pole -
ideally the pole should be more
or less touching the edge of the
punt as you drop it into the water. |
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When
you drop the pole, it's easiest
to always do it on the same side.
Like most novices, you could try
and alternate from side to side,
but it won't work very well (it
will make you hit alternate banks
of
the river and get your crew dripping
wet!). The solution is to drag
the pole in the water after each
time you push it, so that it is
in the water but not touching
the bottom of the river. If you
push it from side to side in the
water, like a rudder, the punt
will turn in the opposite direction.
Push it the right way each time,
and it cancels out any overall
turning effect (If you watch a
professional punter, you can see
them doing this). Although a paddle
is provided, there should not
be any need for it. When you visit
us don't worry if you cannot remember
everything that you have read
here. Our friendly crew are always
on hand to offer advice or a quick
punting lesson.
..and wear
something that you won't mind
getting wet!
'Punting
is not as easy as it looks. As in
rowing, you soon learn how to get
along and handle the craft, but
it takes long practice before you
can do this with dignity and without
getting the water all up your sleeve'.
Jerome
K. Jerome, Three Men in a Boat
(1889) |
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