True to the best of the forecasts, we scored another amazing night for SUP Club yesterday. This week low tide for c.8km down the Ray from Two Tree to Seal Point and back (passing a few resting seals with their pups on the far bank, at a suitably respectful distance, and visited by a couple of inquisitive seals in the water too…) followed by dinner and drinks at the Elms. Thanks everyone for another awesome evening…

Venue: Two Tree Island (SS9 2GB / w3w.co/raves.tour.fades)
Meeting: c.5.45pm
Launch: after 6.15pm briefing
Finish: c.8.20pm
Level: Capable coastal paddlers

Gentle warning: although the forecast is looking pretty well perfect to allow us out at the coast from Two Tree again for SUP Club tonight, from experience out in the Thames Estuary even with zeroes on some of the predictions, as it’s so exposed it doesn’t take much breeze to make things properly ‘challenging’ for some. Famous last words: we’re hoping for totally benign conditions well within the ability of all regular SUP Clubbers – but we never know for sure, and with any added sea breeze effect or surprise high pressure phenomenon, newer paddlers on shorter boards may not get very far or go very fast. So while tonight should suit all of our regulars, we need to know that everyone knows what they’re doing out there if it turns out tough. So please, it’s not for night inexperienced paddlers, new SUP Clubbers or those of a nervous disposition…

But as long as you’re strong and up to / for a bit of distance (ie; you’re used to stand-up paddling 8km+ routes on open water) the relatively neapy 0.94 low tide (at 18.55) and minimal breeze – which is variously forecast light, but from four different directions! – mean we can hit the coast from Two Tree (SS9 2GB / w3w.co/raves.tour.fades). Assuming conditions allow we’re planning to head down the Ray, launching just half an hour before low water so we won’t get so much pull out. As always on the Ray, for safety’s sake we need up-for-it, competent coastal paddlers tonight – comfortable with 8km+ routes and with the necessary strength, skills and experience to paddle themselves out of trouble if necessary. We’ll aim to get right down to Seal Point, before cruising back with the flood tide to land soon after 20.20, comfortably ahead of the 21.13 sunset. (Plan B, in case conditions somehow don’t turn out conducive, we’ll just stick to the dogleg for a splashabout…)

This week needs to be competent, confident coastal paddlers only (ie; able to stand up and paddle strong and non-stop for 90+ minutes, able to paddle themselves out of trouble if necessary, with experience of exposed 8km estuary routes). And definitely not in need of a lesson to do so – which of course we offer via www.supsect.com/learn-to-sup.

So meeting from 5.45pm at Two Tree (SS9 2GB / w3w.co/raves.tour.fades) ahead of a 6.15pm briefing at the top of the slipway (please, no late-comers tonight, we need everyone ready to go as we’ll be hitting the water straight after). Then once we’re done we’ll head off to the Elms for a quick dinner and drink…