You forgot to mention that, in Cambridge at least, you should keep as close to the middle of the river[1] as possible. There's the remains of a towpath there: firmer and shallower than the surrounding yuck. [1] As distinct from the Middle River though I think the towpath is non-existent on the Upper River/Granta.
I've never been quite convinced of the merits of standing facing sideways in a punt at all. I always face directly forwards with my feet wide apart, for the specific practical reason that this enables me to keep my balance much more easily when the passengers rock the boat unexpectedly. I've never found this stance to present a difficulty to the actual process of punting.
Yes, now I think about it I stand facing forwards too. Sideways stance makes a two-handed stroke with the top of the pole well to the side of the boat easier (to land the tip under the boat and correct a sideways drift), but if you can punt one-handed at all you can equally take that particular stroke with only one hand.
When people start rocking the boat (or when anything else goes wrong) my instinct is to kneel down. This seems to work well. (Actually, if people start rocking the boat, sometimes my instinct is to retaliate in kind.)
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Punting guide: addenda
You forgot to mention that, in Cambridge at least, you should keep as close to the middle of the river[1] as possible. There's the remains of a towpath there: firmer and shallower than the surrounding yuck.
[1] As distinct from the Middle River though I think the towpath is non-existent on the Upper River/Granta.
Re: Punting guide: addenda
I almost always punt over the right-hand side in any case - like mounting a bike, I can do it from the other side, but it feels very awkward.
Re: Punting guide: addenda
Re: Punting guide: addenda
Re: Punting guide: addenda
Re: Punting guide: addenda
Re: Punting guide: addenda