Despite the breeze (and therefore mildly off-putting call) we still got a great turnout at SUP Club last night. With thanks to the Willow Set for hosting, over 30 of us paddled from Paper Mill down to All Saints Church, Ulting, and back at a really good pace. Great to see more familiar faces returning to the water, as well as welcome a couple of new padders to the fold. Then off to our favourite local for dinner and drinks.

Venue: Paper Mill Lock (CM3 4BS / w3w.co/encoded.narrating.switched)
Arrive: c.6pm (gates close at 6.15pm!)
Launch: after 6.25pm briefing
Finish: c.8.20pm
Level: confident, capable river paddlers

We’re back to ‘home’ to the Willow Set at Paper Mill for SUP Club this week – although unlike last time, we’re taking on a c.7k route tonight. And with a potentially stiff easterly wind it’s likely to be harder going, and against the grain both ways as we’re heading out against the breeze and coming back against the flow. (Therefore particularly inexperienced or nervous paddlers might have trouble keeping up this week, so while it’s not a race and we’re only going at gentle cruising speed, it’s maybe not ideal for confidence building: please email us via info@supsect.com if you’re not sure if it’s right for you!)

Our regulars will be fine for sure, as will other confident, competent river paddlers (ie; anyone who can happily stand-up paddle in a bit of breeze, going two locks out and back without stopping). But please, if you’re not yet paddling strong, and confidently steering, stopping and turning, a busy group at SUP Club isn’t the place to learn these essential skills – we offer lessons for that! And as always, please ensure you are licensed to paddle the river (renewals via www.waterways.org.uk)

The Willow Set are again kindly allowing us in after hours, charging £3 from 5.30pm onwards when you use the password ‘SUPsect’ or flash our logo at the gate. Ideally get there by by 6pm, and please don’t be late as the gates are planned to lock at 6.15pm. So, setting up by c.6pm at Paper Mill Lock to gather at our ‘training zone’ by the entrance for a 6.25pm briefing ahead of a c.6.30pm launch. An easterly breeze means we’ll be heading east tonight – up to All Saints Church, Ulting, via Rushes Lock and back.

As always, please ensure you are licensed to paddle the river (renewals via www.waterways.org.uk). Everyone licensed, with their own kit (including leash!) who can paddle confidently is very welcome… Tonight might feel like hard work for inexperienced paddlers though, as we’re going against the wind then against the flow. (And please, if you’re not yet competently steering, stopping and turning, a busy group at SUP Club isn’t the place to learn these essential skills – we offer lessons for that!)

After, we’ll be going for dinner and drinks as usual – numbers via a show of hands at the briefing.