With a building north-westerly breeze tonight, low tide at the coast’s a no-go so we’re heading back to the river where we’re hoping to take advantage of tonight’s full moon. Although sunset’s super-early at 5.46pm and the ‘Hunter’s Moon’ isn’t due to rise until 6.12, we’re banking on there being enough residual light for comfort! So we’re going to meet at Hoe Mill Lock (CM9 6RA) by 6pm (earlier if you need to pump up) ahead of a 6.15pm launch. (Chelmer paddlers must be licensed: see www.waterways.org.uk/shop/product_details?id=2038). We’ll be heading west from a staggered start – shortest boards / newest paddlers first – and definitely running our ‘bounce-back’ policy for the faster paddlers at Rushes Lock so no-one gets left behind in the dark! Paper Mill Lock maybe the apex for some, but we’ll all turn at 7pm before being helped home by the breeze and flow to be off the water at 7.45pm. Do bring red / green / soft coloured lights if you can (as usual, definitely no bright white lights please!) as we are going to need some illumination, although we’re hoping it won’t be pitch black as long as the moon makes it over the treeline. Then after, we’ll head to a pub for dinner and drinks as usual…

SUP Club is completely free if you have your own kit and know how to use it, or we hire for £20 to graduates of our BSUPA Ready to Ride courses. If you want to learn to paddleboard, check out our SUP school page.

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