Venue: Shoebury Common Beach (SS3 9QR, near Thorpe Bay) to Chalkwell (SS0 8JH) one-way
Arrive: c.6.20pm
Launch: after 6.45pm briefing
Finish: c.8.40pm
Level: Strong, experienced coastal paddlers only

Just as last time, we are still reserving the right to take one look at the water and head straight to the pub for SUP Club tonight! But after last time turned out so lovely, we’re hoping to score similarly perfect conditions if we’re lucky. (Yet if we’re not, there’s always the risk of maelstrom. Oh, and it’s sure as hell going to be pretty chilly too! You have been warned…) Because this week the tides – 15:48 neapy low tide (at 1.64m) – and wind are again set up just right for one of our favourites: the down-tide / downwinder.

So, standard repeated warning for this set-up: it could turn out pretty ‘hardcore’ as we’re going to embrace a stiff east-north-easterly breeze for a potentially choppy downwider. It’s forecast cross-offshore enough that we’re hopeful it should turn out good and flat on the flood tide with a cross-tailwind the whole way … although inevitably it always tends to get at least a bit choppy under the pier and near the casino. Yet there are never any guarantees exactly how it pans out. If we’re unlucky and that breeze veers 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 on the estuary, 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 6.45pm briefing from Shoebury Common Beach (SS3 9QR / https://w3w.co/scared.acting.earth). So we’d like everyone arriving by 6.20pm (we should have someone 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 5.20pm – then drive to Chalkwell / SS0 8JH and arrange a lift, cab or any other wacky races strategy back; but against the wind, remember, back to Shoebury Common in good time for the 6.45pm 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 6.20pm), 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?) Remember: no stress, just do whatever works for you.

Oh, and this week the Shoebury Common car-park closes at 9pm, which might be about the time we get back there. But if we’re worried / running late, 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?