East Coast Boating News

07/07/2025

Again, raw sewage stops play!

Due to an ongoing pollution incident at Ness Point in Lowestoft, as a precaution, the Environment Agency has advised against swimming at the beaches to both the north and south of the Claremont Pier.

Bathing water testing is underway, and signage is in place in the affected area.

Further updates will be provided in due course.

06/07/2025

A very sad incident that will be deeply felt throughout the Beccles community.

A member of a local sailing club has told ITV News Anglia he feels he "failed" after he tried to save a teenage boy from drowning.

Read more: https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2025-07-03/i-felt-like-i-failed-sailor-describes-fight-to-save-teen-from-river

03/07/2025

Another very sad incident for the Broads. Water safety is everyone's business and our heartfelt thoughts go out to this young person's family and friends and all of the responders, volunteers and call handlers that were involved.

Police officers were called at about 7.30pm on Wednesday following reports a teenage boy had entered the river with friends but had not resurfaced.

30/06/2025

Following the rescue of more than 40 people over recent days that have been cut off by rising tides at Wells and Brancaster (Despite numerous warnings of how quickly this can happen on a rising tide) a surprisingly refreshing article from the BBC. The RNLI doing a fantastic job, and remember, they are all volunteers.

RNLI water safety officer Mandy Humphreys on what to be aware of when visiting the town's beach.

28/06/2025

And so, that annual inability to use a chunk of the Broads begins!! In years gone by there were changes in rails, water damping and other strategies in place, however, in recent years , closure is the only strategy. Have your say. What are your thoughts? Interesting that we fear this would never happen in Europe where temperatures frequently are much higher?

28/06/2025

This Sunday watch out on the Waveney

Boating News - An organised swim event is taking place on the River Waveney on Sunday 29 June 2025. The event will start at 10:30hrs at the Waveney River Centre and finish at Beccles Lido at 17:30hrs.

Any vessels in the area please navigate with extreme care when in the proximity of the swimmers.

Safety boats will be accompanying the swimmers for the event and participants will be using tow floats and swim hats.

Image description: A graphic with a teal background that says "Boating News: Latest update from the Broads Authority" along with the white Broads Authority dragonfly logo and a white line-drawing of someone standing on a motor cruiser.

15/06/2025

Brilliant update from a great training exercise!

13/06/2025

A very rare piece of history, so many vessels such as these, IPB's, MTB's and rescue craft have been lost. Brilliant to see that this is being saved!

11/06/2025

KENT ONLINE: Maidstone powerboat racer Ben Jelf beats Tom Percival’s 1984 record for the fastest lap at Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club.

Maidstone racer Ben Jelf was in record-breaking form in the 2025 Club Powerboat Championship opening round at Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club.

A club steeped in history, Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club’s outright lap record was set in 1984 by Tom Percival in his Formula 1 Hull with a 3.5litre engine.

Percival’s 27.78sec time had remained untouched for over four decades.

In 2023, Jelf had taken his Formula 1 outfit to Oulton Broad for a few test sessions where it became apparent he was close to the record when he set a lap time of 27.94sec.

With a looming schedule of shipping the boat to the opening round of the F1H2O World Championship in Lake Toba, Indonesia, in August, the team made the decision to put the boat and Jelf through their paces.

It was soon apparent that the 24 year old wasn’t missing a beat despite not having driven his boat in six months. By lap eight, he was a fraction of a second off the outright lap record.

He was gaining speed and had matched his own lap record from two years ago by lap 10.

Two laps later and, as commentator Jason Mantripp read out the latest lap time, a cheer went up as fans heard the magic 27.46sec. It meant Jelf had broken Percival’s record.

Jelf headed out for heat two for the sports boat class and quickly got down to business again.

Lap six of the 15-lap race saw Jelf put in another sensational lap as he set a new Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club outright record at 27.14sec.

Jelf reflected: “Tom Percival was a fantastic powerboat racer, he’s one of the legends of the sport [and] I have grown up hearing stories of him over the years. His record was a phenomenal achievement over 40 years ago and is testament to his skill and calibre of powerboat racer.

“I have the utmost respect for Tom and his record. The fact that nobody has been able to beat it in 40 years says it all.

“I’m over the moon to have been able to achieve the record, and I can tell you it wasn’t easy at all. Lots of my laps were coming in near, but I had to push myself to get it.

“It’s a great feeling, knowing you are the fastest person to have raced at such a historic racing venue and club, and it was great to reward my family, team, sponsors and all our supporters with the record.

“I would like to thank the LOBMBC Club, their officials, volunteers, my fellow racers and everyone that came to watch and support me.”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/other/maidstone-powerboat-racer-ben-jelf-beats-tom-percival-s-1984-record-for-the-fastest-lap-at-lowestoft-oulton-broad-motor-boat-club/ar-AA1GbH4Q?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=b5b7fd85e5334ccf8fd6018a07dc667f&ei=33

09/06/2025

What can be more relaxing than a paddle on a Broadland river - until a planing boat disrupts your day!

S06E092 - Welcome back, and yes, I am back out on the river - but this time in something slightly smaller - the trusty inflatable kayak, the Alamed...

08/06/2025

Good work!!