A controversial new rule has been introduced by Cambridge University Combined Boat Club (CUCBC) which specifies separate outing times for novice and senior rowers.

The rule came into place on Monday (14/10), designating which crews can go out on weekdays before 9am. Mondays and Wednesdays are allocated to novices, Tuesdays and Thursdays for seniors, while Fridays remain unrestricted, allowing all crews on the water.

The changes come after a close vote with a majority of one in favour of passing the rule.

The limitations were implemented “to keep traffic flowing” according to the CUCBC website, with CUCBC Honorary Secretary David O’Loughlin saying: “Adherence to this rule will be enforced by the Early Morning Marshals.”

O’Loughlin also noted that the rule is “being trialled for Michaelmas Term 2024 and will be reviewed after Term”.

Other changes specify that “a minimum of half crew” should be rowing for the first 15 minutes after boats are allowed on the water on senior mornings.

The new rules have faced backlash from college boat clubs, with Martha Wood, the Women’s and Non-Binary Captain at Magdalene Boat Club stating: “The new rule is making the already difficult task of scheduling outings harder, especially for smaller clubs with limited coaches and coxes.”

“There may be days now where some of our boats will have to go out unsupervised, which will undoubtedly slow their progress as a crew,” she continued.

Although the rules aimed to ease congestion, this has not been the case so far, with tensions between colleges increasing. Daniel Windridge Smith, Trinity Hall Lower Boats Captain explained: “The rule was made to ease congestion but so far has built up tension between boat clubs, with everyone getting riled up at the slightest whiff of someone disobeying the rules.”

He added: “The lack of clarity on what qualifies as senior boats and novice boats, each of whom are able to row on separate mornings, enables those with nothing of interest in their life save rowing (debateable if it qualifies) to shout abuse at boats that don’t fit into their little boxes of perfect rowing.”

Sam Moore, a fellow Trinity Hall Lower Boats Captain, said: “The new novice/senior outing rules are already producing cam calamity. Monday was the first day of the rules and Trinity Hall Boat Club already received wrong accusations that they had send out seniors on a novice day (sorry our novices are just that good!).”

“But beyond eagle-eyed cam critics, ensuring novice rowers never have to experience the hell of a 6am wake-up post-revs is probably a cause worth championing,” he continued.

Other rowers have taken to Facebook page Rowbridge Reborn to express their frustrations with the new rules, saying that it will become harder to teach novice crews with limited outings.

They have used the platform to suggest alternative solutions, such as smaller colleges pooling resources to reduce congestion on the river.

Other changes specify that “a minimum of half crew” should be rowing for the first 15 minutes after boats are allowed on the water on senior mornings.

Cambridge University Combined Boat Club was contacted for comment.