With apologies to all our hardworking paddlers who couldn’t make it, the workshy autumnal SUP Club crew scored a pretty amazing evening last night for the final week of our regular Wednesday evening BST season. Meeting silly-early, we hit a ‘classic’ route from Two Tree up to Benfleet on glass under a stunning sunset. Thanks to the skivers – and everyone else who’s made this such an enjoyable summer season. Maybe see you next week for Halloween?

Venue: Two Tree Island (SS9 2GB)
Meeting: from c.4.30pm
Launch: after 4.55pm briefing
Finish: c.6.30pm
Level: Competent coastal paddlers

For the last of our regular Wednesday SUP Clubs, we’re going to hit the estuary from Two Tree tonight. Full disclosure; some forecasts are still gusting on the cusp of too windy for comfort – so it will definitely need to be strong, experienced coastal paddlers only – but we’re determined that the potential of a southerly breeze shouldn’t stop us. All being well we’re anticipating breeze at the lower end of the predictions, which could be lovely, but there’s always the risk it blows through at the upper end which could prove challenging for some with a cross-wind both ways.

Anyway, we’re super-keen to make the 17.19 (@ 5.33m) high tide work – hopefully for a trip up to Benfleet and back, although if it’s looking like too much we could always just ferry across to the maze instead. As we’re out beyond the 17.46 sunset, it would be best that we all have navigation lights (so we can see each other and be seen by any boat traffic) but just reds and greens please, no bright whites. It shouldn’t be too dark in twilight by the time we land, so no stress…

So meeting from 4.30pm at Two Tree to be ready to launch straight after the 4.55pm briefing at the top of the slipway (please, no late-comers tonight, we need to be on time to catch the tide and stay together to keep on top of everyone’s safety after sunset). Then once we’re done we’ll head off to the pub for dinner and drinks (as we’re so early we might take the opportunity to go a little posher than the Elms for a change?!?)

All confident, experienced coastal paddlers welcome (ie; able to stand up and paddle strong for 90+ minutes in potentially cross-windy coastal conditions and not in need of a lesson to do so – which of course we do offer via www.supsect.com/learn-to-sup).