I can confirm that the Crabbing Technical Committee met yesterday and that the Crab Master is now putting the final touches to the rules, which will be posted here shortly.
RM
At long last the technical subcommittee has met and the rules for the First Annual Norfolk Week Crabbing Competition have been labouriously drawn up over many a long evening with the benefits of all participants and the Overy Staithe Harbour Trust in mind, and they are as follows:
- The entry fee shall be £1.00. No cheques please. Entries to be made to chalet C2 at Hunstanton from the Saturday morning of Norfolk Week. Entries will be allowed on the night.
- All competitors must show their certificate of National 12 ownership or be prepared to pay a forfeit (to be decided at a later date in a pub somewhere) before the competiton begins.
- No hooks shall be allowed on crab lines as this is aimed at the small people in the class. Words from on high have recommended that is anyone has bought a crab line with hooks that bags from washing powder can easily be subsitituted.
- No double bottomed buckets, no vintage buckets or wooden buckets will be allowed by order of the committee.
- Only bacon may be used as a bait. Vegetarians may ask for special dispensation from the organisers for alternative bait (to be found in chalet C2).
- Pre entires may be allowed in accordance with rule 1.
- There is no rule 1.
- Alcoholic bribes will be gratefully accepted.
- No sledging.
- Definitely no fish heads to be used as bait.
- Anyone caught torturing crabs or toher competitors will immediatley be disqualified and then tied to the lower part of the staithe with their crab lines. Any comfiscated fish heads or other bait will then be placed in the offenders underpants.
- Children and non swimmers should be encouraged to wear buoyancy aids.
- Waterpistols will only be allowed by the organisers in order to reprimand miscreants.
- Discounted entry fees will be allowed by members of the Red Car Society
PS a red car has been seen at Blakeney
See you all at Norfolk
Please note entries open on Saturday morning in C2, and close on Sunday afternoon (can just imagine the faces of the next inhabitants if a whole load of 12 sailors turn up brandishing money and talking of catching crabs . . . .). Thereafter you need to track down the Pie Boys entourage, wherever they may be!
Mrs RM
Is it possible to enter on-line? Do you plan to update on Twitter? Is there a separate category for the under 5s? We have several non-twelve owners' in our entourage so hope the forfeit / cost not too prohibitive!!
Jane
I was at Blakeney on Saturday (black car) - no water - rain and plenty of wind. No crabbing taking place. Dog not impressed.
The car park is now £3.00.
Looking forward to going up that creek again.
Barry
ex N3364
Lark2312 (Pink & Wrinkly) at NWNW
RM & Co,
Can you clarify some of the details of the crabbing as i cannot fine the other thread.
Time & date? Am I right in thinking that this is the afternoon that we are also sailing there?
The ownership rule, do i really have to re-register my fleet with Kevan so that James and Rory can each be 'owners' of a 12? I know that you Northern folk have so many boats each that this is relatively straightforward but it is more of a challenge for those of us 'down South'. I do, as it happens, have just enough boats at the moment!
James and Rory have been practicing at Waldringfield.
Antony
The proposed championship rules will keep the sport of crabbing in the dark ages. The ban on high tech buckets, tackle restrictions and bait limits will result in a one design sport.
The discrimination against tall people (yes you Antony) is an outrage.... Please revisit the rules in the spirit of a development class and encourage people of all sizes amd abitities to complete on equal mud flat.
King Stupid (who caught crabs at Walbersick)
I'm bitterly disappointed that my beautiful vintage bucket will not be allowed to make an appearance. The oiled mahogany staves sparkle in the sunlight, whilst the bronze handle and fittings are polished and shining and the copper rivets - each one of which has been hand finished with fine wire wool, provides a breathtaking contrast to the deep reddish brown of the dark timbers they hold together. What better home could a crab hope for? Much better than some featureless, plastic abomination from Wilco's. Is there no inclusiveness left in this sport!
It strikes me that limiting the buckets in fact makes it more inclusive - very few people have your time and dedication Tom - a cheap, one-design means it is accessible to all but may simply result in early boredom.
I also caught crabs at Walberswick in 1984.
unclear from the "norfolk" rules what criteria wil decide the championships. Largest crab? Total weight? Best flavour?
I first caught crabs in Walberswick in the 1960's (late 1960's before anyone says anything to the contrary).
My father is there catching crabs right now (well not right now as he will undboubtably be on the other side of the Blyth toasting Colin's health in The Harbour Inn - another fine family tradition) but certainly during the daytime outside of opening hours.
RM
The plan for Crabbing is to do it on Wednesday evening at about 5pm (time to be confirmed), as this is a currently the only available space in the diary. We will have sailed at Wells in the morning and it’s Blakeney the following morning. We have the Jenny Lee Trophy at Burnham Overy Staithe on Thursday evening and it just seems too busy to be getting boats moved around, rigged etc all at the same time as the crabs are at their best, hence Wednesday for crabbing.
I will leave it to King Crabber to deal with the many and varied other questions! Not long to Norfolk now, can't wait!
Mrs RM
I have never caught crabs. I have never heard of Walbersick. Is this relevant? What is relevant? Where is this great event taking place? Is it Walverberswick or is this place designed to confuse. I have heard of Blakeney and its expensive car park however.
Walberswick (suffolk) is home to the world crabbing championships..... An inclusive event with no material restrictions.
An utter and total lack of relevance is exactly the point, part of the joy of NWNW. If you have never heard of Walberswick you have missed out though - delightful small village 'cross the river' from Southwold. My cousin lives there. It's claim to fame is that it hosts the Crabbing Championships every year - a mad mad occasion which everyone should experience at least once in their lives!
We shall catch crabs at Burnham Overy Staithe, which is smaller than Walberswick but (in my humble opinion) nicer. Mrs RM says I should mention that THERE ARE NO TOILETS at Overy Staithe and that small people either need to be prepared to do wild wees or be toileted before they get there!! ICM's son and heir was practising the wild option on Saturday . . .
There is a pub in the village, which was 'made over' a couple of years ago - ICM and I will almost certainly retire there for a noggin of Norfolk ale after crabbing . . . anyone going to join us?
RM
Tim your bucket would be welcome at tummel week although you are unlikely to catch any crabs. The only crabs I have ever caught are while rowing do those count?
Remember to be nice to the Crabs. 5 star bucket accommodation only it would seem!!
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-compassionate-guide-to-catching-a-crab-843549.html (http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-compassionate-guide-to-catching-a-crab-843549.html)
For those worried about the forfeit, I have a couple of spare N12 certificates available for charter. If others find themselves in the same position but do not wish to be seen advertising this in public I am happy to act as a go between for a small fee payable in a dark corner of the local pub. I will be identifiable by the hat pulled down tightly over my eyes and be near the back door just in case the cert police come in the front.
Also planning to run a book on the night. All bets and winnings payable in local ale. The bookie never loses (does he?).
Anyone know if the pub sells crabs?
Kevin; it sounds as though you are trying to persuade minors to buy ale.
While it might not be legal i am not sure there is really a moral issue with persuading minors to buy the ale as long as you drink it for them.
The well being of the crabs is an interesting issue. I have always focused on making sure some nasty little child does not tread on them as they are released back down the slipway, and now i find that the poor mites are getting stressed if the bucket is too small.
I forgot that James and Rory had also had a go at crabbing at Walberswick, as others have rightly said it is clearly the spiritual home of the sport. I cannot remember the year we entered the British Open but my crab would have weighed more if it had not already lost one of its main pincers (funny what you can recall from childhood).
Antony
Antony, by the powers invested in me, I hereby promote you to the position of Crab Welfare Officer for this event, and all communication in this vein ought to be dealt with by you! You will of course be in charge of ensuring that all crabs are kept in humane conditions and that nobody of any size or age puts their feet on them thus causing their untimely demise. As far as certificates are concerned this will need to be handed over to the measurement committee of which I am not a member to see how things stand. My guess is that they will only allow the old blue certificates as hireable ones. In response to the bucket question, the kids will enjoy the clear plastic ones that are available from most places in Norfolk which should also satisfy the Welfare Officer's demands as well.
Usefull info for the Crab welfare Officer. It should be quick and painless....Don't forget to put them to sleep first!
<h2>Boiling live crab</h2>
<ol>
- Pour 5 litres of water into a large saucepan and add around 5 tablespoons of sea salt. Bring to a rapid boil.
- Grasp the live crab by the back legs and drop it into the water headfirst. For a more humane method, as you grasp the crab by the legs, stroke the top of its head until it falls asleep and then slowly drop it into the boiling water.
- Bring the water back to the boil and only then start timing.
- You should cook large crabs (about 2lb) for around 15 - 20 minutes, whilst smaller crabs will only need around 8 - 10 minutes.
- Once the water has started to boil again, reduce the heat and simmer for the required time. The crab's shell should turn a bright orange when done.
- When the crabs are done, immerse them for a few seconds in cold water so that cooking stops and they do not overcook.
- Serve immediately with hot melted butter or let the crabs cool down in their shell until they are cool enough for you to remove the meat and refrigerate it until further use.
- Crabs are also delicious cold. </ol>
Well the first Norfolk Week crabbing competition proved to be a great success with plenty of crabs caught by all the competitors. Anthony was a worthy Crab Welfare Officer and was easily spotted in his yellow hi visiblilty vest checking on the size of buckets that were being used in between doing a spot of crabbing himself. I am certain he was hiding a huge crab under that vest that was then secreted into his bucket before full time.
Kevin did not have to sell any dodgy certificates to late comers, but did ask for sponsors on the night of the Jenny Lee for his row down the Thames. Steve Legrys was conspicuous by his absence and therefore missed out on winning the Canter Trophy for crabbers over a certain age. Maybe he mislaid his keys, we will never know. Mr Toad our erstwhile Chairman (well he was towed in and towed back at Wells) was another no show with his wooden bucket complete with copper rivets so it was down to the promised plastic buckets to be filled by the youngsters of the fleet.
Once time had been called by Joe Miatt with a blast of the whistle on his lifejacket crabs were then inspected with the finale being a race by the released crabs down the hard to the water again. Was this a winning option for the kids and adults alike and should it be repeated next year. I think from the time that was had by all that it was.
Thanks to the Northern team for organising this. Our small people really loved it and are keen to do it again!
An element of too much detail in the last post!
As for late 60s (I first caught crabs in Walberswick in the 1960's (late 1960's before anyone says anything to the contrary).) who's he trying to kid! 8)
tryin to catch up
Roger
Donation of £12 made to the Burnham Overy Harbour Trust as a result of our exploits, great fun!
RM