Well, that worked out OK then… With apologies to those who couldn’t get away from work early enough, those on holiday, those carrying injuries, and those who wisely heeded the many warnings and caveats in the call – of course we struck lucky for last night’s SUP Club. In stark contrast to the wet, windy morning, albeit with a little more rolling chop than these pictures suggest, we enjoyed a classic sunset downwinder / down-tider from Shoebury Common to Chalkwell before dinner at our favourite ’spoons. Magic!

Venue: Shoebury Common Beach (SS3 9QR, near Thorpe Bay) to Chalkwell (SS0 8JH) one-way
Arrive: c.6pm
Launch: after 6.25pm briefing
Finish: c.8.20pm
Level: Strong, experienced coastal paddlers only

As said yesterday, we are reserving the right to take one look at the water and head straight to the pub tonight! Because we’ve certainly got some weather about today. But the tides and wind still look to be setting up right for one of our favourites: the down-tide / downwinder…

We do need to start off with a warning though: it could turn out pretty ‘hardcore’ as we’re going to embrace a stiff east-north-easterly breeze for a potentially very choppy downwider. It’s forecast cross-offshore enough that it could turn out good and flat on the flood tide with a cross-tailwind the whole way … although inevitably it always tends to get choppy under the pier and near the casino. Problem being, with this morning’s south-easterly backing easterly early afternoon, we’re banking on it then backing north-east as per predictions, yet there are never any guarantees exactly how it pans out. If we’re unlucky and that breeze stays easterly, we’re potentially looking at some seriously challenging conditions (big rolling chop with bounceback) that really won’t be viable for some. (In which case, they / we need to be prepared not to launch after all…) So please, unless you’re totally confident in your abilities, tonight’s really not the night to ‘give it a go’. Speed is of the essence too, as we will only go as fast as our slowest paddler – yet going too slowly isn’t easy on longer, narrower boards. So if you’re of a nervous disposition or not yet keeping up with the pack at standard SUP Clubs we would ask that you please sit this one out as we’d like to keep a reasonable pace. That said, we would hope that, if the forecast models are right, the majority of our regular paddlers should be good for this one – and we do want to be as inclusive as possible. So if in any doubt whatsoever, please drop us a quick email or message us and we can advise. Anyway…

In short, we’re going to ride the flood tide up the estuary for a downwinder from Shoebury Common Beach (SS3 9QR / https://w3w.co/scared.acting.earth) to Chalkwell (www.supsect.com/thorpe-bay-downwinder-7k) – this is a one-way route, so be prepared (and suitably patient) for the inherent logistical complications!

We all need to be ready to launch straight after a 6.25pm briefing from Shoebury Common Beach (SS3 9QR / https://w3w.co/scared.acting.earth). So we’d like everyone arriving by 6pm (not sure we can have anyone there early enough to keep an eye on kit this week, so if you want to pump up / drop off boards you’ll need to be there soon after 5pm and trust your kit will be OK tucked between the beach huts – then drive to Chalkwell / SS0 8JH and arrange a lift, cab or any other wacky races strategy; but against the wind, remember, back to Shoebury Common in good time for the 6.25pm briefing and launch). Or alternatively, buddy up and arrange to drop vehicles (with a Southend parking pass?) at Chalkwell on the way? Or an equally viable plan is to simply get yourself straight to the launch on time (ie; arriving by 6pm), leave your vehicle there and grab a lift back at the end with someone. This really won’t be a problem (cabs being the fallback option at c.£5 a head if necessary) and we will make sure everyone’s happily sorted and packed at Chalkwell before heading back to pick up vehicles from Shoebury Common, then off for dinner and drinks (probably up at our favourite Shoebury ‘spoons?)

Incidentally, the Shoebury Common car-parks close at 8.15pm this month, so maybe best to park down Ness Road, by the boat ramp, if there’s space. Or else just set up on the green and move vehicles out onto the road before the briefing?