Serendipitously, the wind backed right off and the sun came out again last night to provide perfect conditions for another super-chilled SUP Club. With huge thanks to Amanda for welcoming us back into the Willow Set, we cruised two locks upstream from Paper Mill Lock to Stonham’s and back before dinner and drinks at our favourite local, the ever-awesome Six Bells Boreham…

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

With a dying breeze on the forecasts we’re back ‘home’ to the Willow Set at Paper Mill tonight, with huge thanks to the twins for their continued support… We are possibly heading out into quite a breeze though, so again, particularly inexperienced or nervous paddlers might have trouble keeping up at first. 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 completely sure it’s right for you!

So staying positive, it is forecast nice and dry and sunny this evening … drawback being we’ve still maybe got what might be a pretty stiff north-westerly wind at first (which will most likely back right off to virtually nothing by the time we’re coming back, of course) that could potentially feel like tough going at times on the way out as we work through the gusts. So please be prepared to dig in, dress sufficiently warm … and remember that water’s still not hot. That said, as we’re ‘at home’ from the Willow Set at Paper Mill again, everyone capable and confident of stand-up paddling a couple of locks is very welcome.

We’re just planning to go two locks upstream tonight: broadly upwind to Stonham’s via Mill House and back. The Willow Set are kindly allowing us in pre-season, charging £3 from 5.45pm onwards when you use the password ‘SUPsect’ or flash our logo at the gate. Please get there by c.6pm (and comfortably before 6.15pm) – don’t be too early and please don’t be late, as 6.15pm is when when the gates are planned to lock, then we’re going to brief at 6.25, so do make sure you have time to pump up before that…

So, setting up from 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. We’ll probably be going two locks upstream to Stonham’s and back tonight.

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 stand-up paddle confidently is very welcome… But 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.