Blog #12 – looking forward…

With another May bank holiday weekend imminent and June just around the corner, we’re really looking forward to super-charging our summer of SUP! We’re getting set for our next SUPfari on Friday when we’re heading west to Bigbury, South Devon – we’ve got a big group booked up for camping at Mount Folly Farm over the bank holiday weekend, 25-29th May. If you want to join us, find details in the SUPsect Forum on Facebook…

But before that comes Wednesday, which of course means SUP Club! The weather seems to be staying fine, but that big blocking high pressure looks set to deliver a characteristically strong north-easterly breeze. We have the right tide (8.22pm high @5.0m) for the coast, so will either try to tuck out at Chalkwell and stay put for a splashabout or possibly take on the downwinder from Thorpe Bay if we’re feeling brave. To be decided – so stay tuned to Facebook for the heads-up tomorrow then the full call by Wednesday lunchtime.

And remember, SUP Club is completely free of charge for anyone with their own kit. We just ask that you already know how to paddle. If conditions are suitable, limited hire kit is available to graduates of our Learn to SUP lessons from duncan@supsect.com

Talking of lessons, we’re also looking forward to getting started on our Improver Tours next month with our first two river Refresher Sessions now scheduled for Sunday 3rd June and Sunday 17th June at 2.30pm. If you’ve completed our Learn to SUP course (or any other BSUPA Ready to Ride lesson) yet for extra confidence feel you could use some more coaching and time on the water before paddling by yourself and/or joining us at SUP Club on a Wednesday evening, these Improver Tours are for you…

Plus of course we’ll still be out teaching new paddlers next month on our BSUPA Ready to Ride certificated Learn to SUP lessons at Paper Mill Lock with sessions scheduled on Saturday 2nd, Sunday 3rd, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June, then Sunday 1st and Saturday 7th July too! More on our paddleboard lesson page or just drop an email to lessons@supsect.com

To round off let’s look back for a moment to last Wednesday evening’s SUP Club, which was pretty chilly in that strong northerly wind – but 11 of us still enjoyed a great night from Papermill Lock. A slightly different route worked out great: first east to Rushes Lock then back to portage through Paper Mill before heading west to Little Baddow Mill Lock and back. Followed by a magnificent dinner at the Six Bells Boreham. Come join us next time!