We’ve got sun and warmth at long last, although unsuitable tides and breeze limit us to the river for tonight’s SUP Club – meeting at Paper Mill Lock to be ready by 6.15pm ahead of a 6.30pm launch. (So please get there in good time if you need to pump up first…) There’s a solid ESE breeze on the forecast, so assuming that fills in as predicted and the stream’s not too strong we’re thinking a gentle 6k to All Saints Church just short of Hoe Mill Lock should be the way. (Although if we get to the river to see a strong flow vs light wind, we’ll head west instead.) As we’re anticipating quite a range of speeds and experience in this weather, we’ll definitely be graduating the start with the fastest launching lastest – and tonight we’ll be operating a ‘bounce-back’ policy, whereby if you get to the lock / church / finish towards the front of the pack, you’re encouraged to turn around and loop around the back of the group so we stay broadly together and the chargers get some extra distance in… Then we’re expecting to be off the water soon after 8pm in good time to make the Six Bells for dinner and/or drinks after. As ever, all paddlers on the Chelmer & Blackwater should have a valid canoe licence: available at www.waterways.org.uk/shop/product_details?id=2038

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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