Invasive Shrimp comes to Broads

Boaters have been asked to take extra precautions following the discovery of an invasive, non-native species of shrimp in an area of Barton Broad. The shrimp – Dikerogammarus Villosus – has become widespread in Western Europe and it could threaten native species. There is no risk to public health or pets.

Water users, particularly those bringing boats into the area, are asked to follow the Check/Clean/Dry routine:

• Check boats and fishing kit coming into and leaving the Broads for shrimp.
• Clean and wash off all equipment (e.g. nets, spray decks and footwear) and boats (including canoes) to make sure you are not taking any organism to other rivers within or outside the Broads. Remove and destroy any shrimps found.
• Dry all equipment, clothing and pump out bilges – shrimp can live in damp conditions for many days. If drying is impossible, at least wash down equipment before travelling between rivers or coming into and leaving the Broads for other river systems.
  

  Invasive Shrimp

The Environment Agency, Broads Authority and Natural England are working together to investigate the presence of the shrimp in the Broads, including the current population and distribution over Broads as a whole.

First Presentation of Whelpton Trophy for Young Achievement at AGM

Ann Whelpton presents the Tim Whelpton Trophy to Georgina Povall at NSBA AGM

Georgina Povall, just 17, recalls that is only a few seasons since she entered the NSBA’s Broadland Youth Regatta as her first major event. By last Autumn, as rescue helicopters scoured the skies searching for a sinking ship, she was squad training in gale force winds off the North Welsh coast. The transformation from rookie to serious competitive sailor has seen Georgina rise through the ranks of Britain’s top female Laser sailors. Her progress was recognised by the NSBA at its AGM  (November) when it awarded her the Tim Whelpton Trophy for young sailing achievement at national or international level.

The one-off trophy, a silver representation of the proa Crossbow at speed, was donated to the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association by Ann Whelpton, Tim’s Widow. Tim built Crossbow and sailed her with Sir Timothy Colman when she took the world speed sailing record, and was the first sailing boat to be timed at over 30 miles per hour.

Georgina Povall’s schedule for the last 12 months illustrates the height of her achievement. During that period she has been transitioning from the smaller Laser 4.7 rig to the ladies’ Olympic class, the Laser Radial, having already progressed through the Topper and Laser 4.7 National Junior Squads. She competed in the Radial at national qualification events in the spring of 2011 and was selected for the RYA GBR National youth squad, ranked third girl overall in the UK.

At the RYA Youth National Championships at Hayling Island in March this year, Georgina was third youth girl and posted a top five finish in the last race.

In July she took bronze at the Laser 4.7 European Championships at Workum in the Netherlands. In the senior and even more competitive Laser Radial fleet, she was placed sixth overall, third youth and first GBR sailor in the Europa Cup at Warnemunde in Germany.

Georgina Povall in heavy seas

 Following that, she attended her first Radial Youth Worlds at La Rochelle, France. Still finder her feet there, she exceeded expectations, both qualifying for the gold fleet and posting top ten results. The summer season finale was an invitation to train with the Olympic development squad at Weymouth.

Georgina still enjoys sailing in Norfolk, particularly her home club, Hickling Broad SC, which she describes as the best in the county. This autumn she sailed again in the NSBA’s Broadland Youth Regatta, held there. Sailing a double-handed RS Feva with fellow club member Rebecca Sheldrake, they together won the trophy for top helm and crew.

As well as the Tim Whelpton Trophy, Georgina has been nominated for the RYA Sports Aid, Lloyds TSB ‘Local Heroes’ scheme. But in case anybody thinks Georgina’s life is one track, this summer she studied hard to gain 9 GCSEs, seven of them A or A*. She also found time to earn a dinghy instructor qualification.

Also at the AGM, Mark Wells presented Mollie Howes with Life Membership of the Association, in recognition of her long service on the General Purposes Committee. For most of that period she was the organiser of the Association’s Inter-Club Championship, the Ramuz Trophy.

Mark Wells presents retiring committee member Mollie Howes with NSBA Life Membership

Prof. Richard Card was elected the NSBA’s new Chairman. He takes over from Mark Wells, standing down after three years in the post.

Welcome to the new look NSBA website

As you can see, the NSBA website has changed.

We’re making it easier for us to update, and to bring the latest information on what’s going on within the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating scene direct to you.

We’re also making it easier for you to make your comments on what’s going on. You’ll be able to post your comments on issues as they develop and as they are reported.

All the Green Book  information which has proved so popular in the past is still available through the links on the left of this screen. You can still see everything, from our unique photo-database of Broadland bridges, to the ever valuable tide tables.

Clubs can see, view and update their information in the usual way.

Enjoy!

Mark Wells,
NSBA Chair.

Broads Authority responds to NSBA calls for lower tolls increases

Phil Ollier - NSBA Committee Member and new Vice-Chair of Navigation Committee

After years of pressure from the NSBA, Broads Authority officers are at last proposing a low single digit increase in annual river tolls – the tax boat owners pay to use the Broads. But the NSBA is not happy that the Authority’s officals want to use the increase to re-structure the tolls payments without proper negotiation or consultation. Until recently, increases of 5-6% across the board were being mooted for next year following a decade of even heavier increases.

“It appears the Broads Authority may have at last woken up to the realities of the economic situation, and the ability of owners to pay ever higher tolls,” said NSBA Chairman Mark Wells

In the Authority’s Navigaton Committee’s tolls debate, officers proposed a 2.85% average rise profiled in such a way that the small boats faced a 1% increase and the largest boats faced a 4.4% increase. Financial reports presented at the meeting and enhanced by questions put to officers garnered the information that the likely outturn for the current year was a £50,000 underspend (about 2% of the tolls income). Mindful of the, as yet unknown, costs associated with taking over Breydon Water (likely to occur next year) and the current rate of inflation, the committee accepted the officer’s recommendation of a 2.85% increase but recommended that it should be a flat rate increase applicable to all sizes of craft. The feeling was that if the Authority wanted to encourage particular classes of craft, it should do so as the result of a thorough review of the tolls structure, not by trying to skew the way that increases were applied.

On the subject of an integrated access strategy for the Broads officers’ acknowledged the need to enshrine the right to navigate.

David Broad was elected Navigation Committee Chairman and NSBA Commitee member Phil Ollier was elected Vice Chairman. Both were put forward for appointment to the Broads Authority as Navigation Committee representatives.