Last night’s SUP Club was pretty amazing – despite a ridiculously early 4pm meet we had a surprisingly big turn-out at Hullbridge, for a c.8km paddle into Battlesbridge and back in near-perfect conditions as the centre of this low pressure passed through, followed by a quick drink at the Smuggler’s Den, then an awesome charity curry night at The Tandoori Parlour to break our Chelmer Challenge target, hitting £5,336 in aid of Action For Family Carers at www.justgiving.com/page/supsectchelmerchallenge2024 … for which, huge thanks to everyone.

Venue: Hullbridge (SS5 6ND)
Meeting: from c.4pm(!)
Launch: after 4.30pm briefing
Finish: c.6.10pm
Level: strong (CHA licensed) estuary paddlers

Seemingly standard 2024 warning! Although there is a suitable lull in the wind as the centre of this low pressure sweeps through, the forecast breeze is still stiff and potentially gusty enough (towards the top of our viable range for SUP Club) to present a challenge to some at Hullbridge. We’re hoping to strike lucky and have winds on the light side of the forecasts, and we’ll have the tide into Battlesbridge against that breeze, but if it blows through on the stronger side it could feel like hard going for inexperienced estuary paddlers. Not dangerous, but as ever, we just don’t want anyone struggling to keep up and losing their self-belief: and we need to know that everyone’s perfectly happy and completely capable paddling against what might be a moderate headwind (potentially into a teeny bit of chop). Regular SUP Clubbers on longer boards should be absolutely fine, but again this week’s not one for newbies or those of a nervous disposition… (Oh, and of course there’s a chance of a sharp rainshower too!)

Anyway, all that said, we are of course planning and hoping for a decent paddle. So we’re going to hit the Crouch from Hullbridge, we’ll confirm at the briefing but are anticipating a c.7.5k loop into Battlesbridge and back. To catch the tide we’ll need to meet from c.4pm and be comfortably set up at Hullbridge (w3w.co/nurtures.clockwork.outsmart / SS5 6ND) ahead of a 4.30pm briefing. Please be ready to launch immediately after the briefing: strictly no late-comers.

Note: there’s now a solid 2.1m height restriction into the free car-park. And of course, all paddlers should be registered with the Crouch Harbour Authority to paddle.

After, it’s our Charity Curry Night at 8pm in Thundersley – so we’ll have a bit of time to kill, maybe for a drink at the Smuggler’s and/or possibly even a chance to pop home and dress for dinner?!?