Afraid we can’t guarantee the sunset, although we’re hoping the sun’s going to burn through this afternoon so we could be lucky. But we can be sure of at least a down-tider from mid-flood, and are pretty confident of a light to moderate north-easterly breeze which should produce perfectly gentle cross-offshore ‘downwinder’ conditions. So we are going to go for the full 9km Old Leigh run from Thorpe Bay (from the Shorehouse slipway, SS3 9HQ). Definitely not suitable for first-time SUP Clubbers, but conditions look very favourable hence everyone that’s kept in touch with the bunch at SUP Club before should be absolutely fine. So, it’s a one-way ticket, we’re expecting it to take 90 minutes at most at a reasonable pace and it’s a late, neapy tide (22.26 @ 4.7m!) so we’ll finish after sunset via Leigh Creek through the mudflats – if you have a couple of little lights, bring them, and the water’s still chilly so some neoprene would be wise. As we did last time (July 2017) we’re going to sort out vehicle logistics up front – so, if we can all meet outside the Shorehouse pub (SS3 9HQ) by 5.45pm (earlier if you need to pump up!) we’ll leave boards and paddles supervised and pre-order taxis while we all drive to Old Leigh (there are carparks either side of Belton Bridge, SS9 2ER, so there should be plenty of space) then jump into the cabs at 6.20pm to ferry back to the start for 6.45pm. (If you can’t make the earlier meet, you can of course leave your vehicle at the start and go back to get it afterwards – either call a cab or scrounge a lift…) Then for the launch itself, we’re convening outside the Shorehouse from 6.45pm, ahead of a quick briefing, then a 7pm start for the shortest boards / slowest paddlers followed by the faster then fastest. Then, with the vehicles already sorted, after we can relax and grab a beer at the Crooked Billet whilst we work out where to eat!

SUP Club is completely free of charge for anyone who owns their own kit (and knows how to use it!) to attend. If conditions are suitable, limited hire kit is available to graduates of our Learn to SUP lessons from duncan@supsect.com

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