Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire

Letitia Hristodorescu — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:19:54 +0000

hree miles long and one and a half miles across at it’s widest, this 1600 acres of open water provide perfect sailing conditions for racing or cruising. The relatively flat surrounding countryside of Western Cambridgeshire does little to disturb the wind giving almost the same wind strength as at the coast.

Grafham Water Centre www.grafham-water-centre.co.uk and Grafham Sailing Club www.grafham.org are situated on the southern shores of the lake. But you have to PAY to use the water on a daily rate or at any time by joining the Sailing Club.

Fees: One off daily fee: £6 for you, £6 for your kit. On Sunday, this rises to £8.50

Grafham Sailing Club annual fees: Adult windsurfer: £207 + £76 joining fee

Junior windsurfer (U18): £52 (no joining fee) For more info visitwww.grafham.org/subscriptions.htm

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Beach Faces:: north
Best Wind Direction:: all wind directions are sailable.
Not Good:: Southerlies provide a gusty launch, but once off the beach it’s fine.
What’s On The Bottom:: mud/silt/sand
Any Hazards:: only the pontoons for the rescue boats and a few moorings.
Other Water Users:: Dinghy sailors, canoeists and fishermen. The waters can be busy on Sundays and other race days.
Suitability / Levels:: Suitable for every level as it is very safe although a strong breeze can be a challenge. It is excellent for race training, blasting and freestyle.

Wipeout Factor:: When it is really windy, there is a fair amount of chop and wind swell of up to four foot but nothing to get that worried about.
Instruction:: YES, for beginner to intermediate at Grafham Water Sport Centre. The Centre offers residential and non-residential courses in a wide range of water and land based activities. Tel: 01480 810521 www.grafham-water-centre.co.uk Email: info@grafham-water-centre.co.uk RYA Instruction also available at Jonti Sailboards Windsurfing and Dinghy Shop on the south shore. Tuition starts from £30 for 2 hours. Tel.01480 811242 www.jonti.co.uk Email: jonti@dial.pipex.com
Kit Hire:: YES for beginner to advanced through Jonti Sailboards (see contact details above)
Friendly Factor:: There are a lot of regular windsurfers and a good social scene based around the sailing club. There is a nice grassy rigging area where everyone hangs out and plenty of things to accommodate the family to make, all in all, a pleasant day out!
No Wind Alternatives:: There are a lot of regular windsurfers and a good social scene based around the sailing club. There is a nice grassy rigging area where everyone hangs out and plenty of things to accommodate the family to make, all in all, a pleasant day out!

Facilities:

Toilets	Yes, on site
Shower	Yes, on site
Windsurfing Shop	Yes, Jonti Sailboards on the south shore has everything that a dinghy sailor or windsurfer will ever need. (see contact details in Instruction)
Food	Café in the sailing club
Parking	Day membership is required for a one off visit including parking
Pub	There are several around the area, one is a 5mins walk away from the centre

Accommodation:

There are plenty of B&B’s in the area. Grafham Sailing Club has a full accommodation list on its website: www.grafham.org/accommodation.htm

Local Knowledge / Secrets:

Grafham Water has been known to create a thermal wind on hot summer days. A strong wind can produce good chop for jumping.

Extra:

Grafham Sailing Club hosts a number of sailing and windsurfing events throughout the year.

Take a look: www.webcam.grafham.org/index.html

How To Get There:

Grafham Water is just outside Huntingdon and next to the A14 and the A1. From the south, take the A14 west from the M11. From the north get off at Jnc 19 on the M1 to join the A14 east bound. The turn off is very clearly signposted on the A14. Follow the signs through the village of Grafham and at the end of the road turn right towards Perry. As you see the pub on your left, take the right (opposite the pub). The end of this road forks: one lane is to Grafham Water Sailing Club, the other is to Grafham Water Centre.

Report By:

Clyde Waite

‘Killer shrimp’ spreading across the UK!

Duncan — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:13:45 +0000

The RYA have just circulated this alarming little press release…

‘Dikerogammarus villosus’ – aka: ‘killer shrimp’!

KILLER SHRIMP CONFIRMED AT FURTHER UK LOCATIONS

The Environment Agency (EA) has confirmed the identification of ‘Dikerogammarus villosus’ or the ‘killer shrimp’ as it has become nicknamed in two more locations in the UK; Cardiff Bay and Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir in Port Talbot.

The shrimp which is a particularly aggressive predator preying on a range of invertebrates, particularly native shrimps and young fish and can wipe out entire populations and damage ecosystems, was discovered at Grafham Water earlier this year and the RYA has been encouraging boaters to do everything they can to minimise the spread of these voracious invasive predators.

“Harmless to humans, the killer shrimp can be spread around the country in a number of ways including on the hulls of our boats and associated kit and given that it has now appeared in Wales it is really important that we boaters do our bit to limit any further spread around the country”, commented Caroline Price, RYA Planning and Environmental Advisor.

The RYA has produced guidance on how to minimise the spread of non-native invasive species and urges all clubs and individual boaters to follow this advice and remain vigilant to the risk of spread.

Corus Sailing Club at Port Talbot and the Cardiff Bay Yacht Club and Cardiff Yacht Club in Cardiff Bay are continuing to operate as normal however, all water users are making strenuous efforts to confine the problem and boats leaving the club premises are being washed down with freshwater first.

“We are fully supportive of the actions being taken by all affected clubs and would encourage all visitors to continue to enjoy the facilities available in both locations”, concluded Caroline.

More information on the killer shrimp can be found at the Non Native Species Secretariat at the Department for Food and Rural Affairs.

Boards Windsurfing » Grafham Water Windsurfing

Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire

Facilities:

‘Killer shrimp’ spreading across the UK!