Autumnal vibes at SUP Club last night – a windy old evening, but a big group charged upstream from Paper Mill to Cuton Lock and flew back for dinner at the fantastic Six Bells Boreham…

Venue: Paper Mill Lock (CM3 4BS / w3w.co/encoded.narrating.switched)
Gates open: 5.30pm
Arrive: by c.5.50pm (gates lock at 6pm)
Launch: after 6.10pm briefing
Finish: c.8.10pm
Level: capable river paddlers

With a solid south-westerly breeze on all the forecasts, we’re taking SUP Club back up onto the River Chelmer tonight, from the Willow Set at Paper Mill Lock – with huge thanks to the twins for allowing us to let ourselves in this week… All capable river paddlers welcome, hopefully a bit of headwind on the way out should be the worst of it.

We’re just planning to go two locks upstream: upwind (and it may be pretty breezy) to Stonham’s via Mill House and back. The Willow Set are kindly allowing us in out of hours, charging £3 from 5.30pm onwards when you use the password ‘SUPsect’ or flash our logo at the gate. Please get there by c.5.50pm – and please don’t be late, as the gates are going to lock at 6pm, then we’re briefing at 6.10, so do make sure you have time to pump up before that… Also, don’t be early, as the Willow Set is closed today so we’ll be unlocking it ourselves at 5.30pm.

Setting up by 6pm at Paper Mill Lock to gather at our ‘training zone’ by the entrance for a 6.10pm briefing ahead of a c.6.15pm 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 non-stop for 90-minutes 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.