Venue: Paper Mill Lock (CM3 4BS / w3w.co/encoded.narrating.switched)
Arrive: c.5.45pm (gates close at 6.05pm!)
Launch: after 6.15pm briefing
Finish: c.8.10pm
Level: capable river paddlers

It’s been a while, but we’re back ‘home’ to the Willow Set at Paper Mill for SUP Club this week. With light southerly winds on the forecast it should be a chilled night, and we’ll just be going at a sociable cruising pace so it should suit confident first-time SUP Clubbers fresh off a lesson. But please, if you’re not yet paddling strong at a reasonable pace – and confidently steering, stopping and turning – a busy group at SUP Club isn’t the place to learn these essential skills. 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 for 5.45pm, and please don’t be late as the gates are planned to lock at 6.05pm. So, setting up from c.5.45pm at Paper Mill Lock to gather at our ‘training zone’ by the entrance for a 6.15pm briefing ahead of a c.6.20pm launch. A southerly breeze (and some duckweed on the less navigated sections) mean we’ll be going a lock each way tonight: west to Mill House and back through Paper Mill Lock, then east to 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 and strong at a reasonable pace is very welcome… (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 – as said, 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.