Punt: Difference between revisions
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A <b>Punt</b> is a flat bottomed boat pushed along with a long pole. You see them on the rivers on [[Cambridge]] and [[Oxford]]. |
A <b>Punt</b> is a flat bottomed boat pushed along with a long pole. You see them on the rivers on [[Cambridge]] and [[Oxford]]. |
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=== Punts in Cambridge === |
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There many commercial organisations that make punts available for hire to the general public; it is a popular [[tourist]] activity. Some colleges hire their punts to the general public, most let only students use them. There are a few punts owned by private individuals registered on the [[Cam]]. |
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=== Punting technique === |
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| ⚫ | The user stands on a wooden platform at the back and tries not to fall into the water while holding the (rather heavy) wooden pole. A naive attempt at propulsion by pushing with the pole against the mud at the bottom of the river is likely to result in the punt moving in a circle, or heading constantly into one of the banks. Usually numerous spectators will be present on bridges and banks and will find it greatly amusing. |
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One better technique is actually to use the pole as a rudder, letting it drag in the water behind the punt and moving it left or right to steer. Steering and propulsion are alternated. Alternatively a [[student]] can be employeed to do the punting. |
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The rudder method of steering can be slow (as while you are using the pole as a rudder you're not using it to propel the punt forward). A faster method, requiring more skill, strength, and judgement, is to drop pole slightly away from the punt (turning right for right handers) or slightly under the punt (turning left for right handers) and push backwards as normal. The generated [[torque]] will rotate the punt, probably too much if you are not experienced. |
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Revision as of 15:43, 25 February 2002
A Punt is a flat bottomed boat pushed along with a long pole. You see them on the rivers on Cambridge and Oxford.
Punts in Cambridge
There many commercial organisations that make punts available for hire to the general public; it is a popular tourist activity. Some colleges hire their punts to the general public, most let only students use them. There are a few punts owned by private individuals registered on the Cam.
Punting technique
The user stands on a wooden platform at the back and tries not to fall into the water while holding the (rather heavy) wooden pole. A naive attempt at propulsion by pushing with the pole against the mud at the bottom of the river is likely to result in the punt moving in a circle, or heading constantly into one of the banks. Usually numerous spectators will be present on bridges and banks and will find it greatly amusing.
One better technique is actually to use the pole as a rudder, letting it drag in the water behind the punt and moving it left or right to steer. Steering and propulsion are alternated. Alternatively a student can be employeed to do the punting.
The rudder method of steering can be slow (as while you are using the pole as a rudder you're not using it to propel the punt forward). A faster method, requiring more skill, strength, and judgement, is to drop pole slightly away from the punt (turning right for right handers) or slightly under the punt (turning left for right handers) and push backwards as normal. The generated torque will rotate the punt, probably too much if you are not experienced.
The term Punt also refers to an action in American football
If a team has the ball beyond the 50 yard line (on the other team's half of the field), and is facing afourth down, they may choose to punt the ball. If fourth down occurs in a team's own half of the field, they must punt.A team must annouce its intention to catch it. A player may drop a punt, pick it UP AND RUN WITH IT!!!