Paul Stephan on a punt XD

MCR River Fleet

We have a punt and a kayak for you to explore the beautiful colleges from the river!

The MCR has two punts, the Springman and the Bismark (available between March and November) and a kayak, Amphitrite (available all year round). To use them, you need to have an active subscription and complete the online form. You will also need to read, sign and upload the relevant protocol documents, found below:

MCR - Punt Protocol

MCR - Kayak Protocol

Current subscription options are as follows:

  • Access to either the Punts or Kayak: £15 for 1 year or £30 for 3 years

  • Access to both the Punts and Kayak: £20 for 1 year or £40 for 3 years

Booking a punt/kayak works via an online calendar system:

Punting can be both fun and challenging, especially for first-time punters. Below are some guidelines and river etiquette for punting on the Cam:

  1. Stand at the back and wear suitable footwear when punting to avoid slipping as the wood can be slippery.

  2. Stand sideways and keep the pole out to the side and push off behind the boat. 

  3. Stick to the right of the river as much as possible.

  4. Right of Way:

    1. The vessel travelling downstream has the right of way.

    2. The vessel closest to the bridge has right of way. Keep right until the boat has passed.

  5. Using the Punt Pole to steer:

    1. The pole is used to push off the riverbed and manoeuver the punt.

    2. When turning, it is best to use the pole as a rudder to steer the boat. For sharper turns, you can place the pole to the side and push off.

    3. If the pole gets stuck in the riverbed, attempt to twist the pole to release it, if it remains stuck, LET GO OF THE POLE, or you may risk falling in the water as the boat moves on without you and the pole.

    4. To stop quickly, put the pole out in front of you and apply your weight onto the pole until the boat comes to a stop. 

  6. Use the small wooden paddles to steer when the punt pole has been dropped in the water and retrieve the pole as fast as possible.

  7. Punting is only permitted above Jesus Lock and advised below Darwin College Lock.

The following video from Scudamores may be useful for first-timer punters.