Chasing the Eclipse: A Sunset Paddle on the River Crouch A perfect summer evening on the River Crouch with barely a ripple on the water, a low tide exposing the river’s hidden features, and a stunning sunset to finish the paddle. 🌅🛶 Chasing the Eclipse: A Sunset Paddle on the River Crouch There are some paddles that are as much about the experience as they are about the destination — and this was definitely one of them. With low water exposing the riverbanks and an eclipse on the horizon, the club headed out onto the River Crouch for an evening paddle with one goal in mind: find the perfect spot to watch the eclipse unfold. As the tide dropped away, we made our way towards one of our favourite little beachheads. Getting ashore, however, was easier said than done! The route from the water involved wading through thick, sticky and decidedly smelly river mud. One by one, every member of the group battled their way across it, with plenty of laughter along the way. Eventually, we all made it ashore — muddy feet and all — and settled in to watch the sky. The eclipse itself was, if we’re honest, a little disappointing. We were expecting a much more noticeable change in the light levels, but the difference was far more subtle than anticipated. Still, it was a great excuse to get everyone together on the river and enjoy an evening in some very unusual conditions. And then came the sunset. As we climbed back into our kayaks and started the journey home, the river transformed beneath us. The setting sun created a stunning backdrop, turning the paddle back towards the sailing club into something rather special. Quiet water, a beautiful evening sky, a group of friends and the River Crouch stretching out around us — not a bad way to finish a club paddle. Cheers Dan Photos Supplied: Various Club Members

Club Paddle on the River Cam - 2027 Heatwave Edition Clu b paddle on the River Cam in the middle of a heatwave, luckily for us there was enough water to enter the River Cam at Grantchester. With a mixture of small river boats and a canoe we made our way in the hot conditions towards our lunch stop at Jesus Green. With zero wind, limited current and slightly lower water levels than expected at the start we made easy progress to our lunch stop at Jesus Green. Everyone enjoyed a long lunch relaxing on the scorched grass, including cold drinks and ice creams from the nearby cafe. After lunch we headed back to Grantchester, weaving our way in between the many punts out on the river full of tourists. Whilst moving the boats up past one of the weirs in Cambridge City Centre, a few of the club members decided to cool down with a well earned swim in the River Cam. We then had a gentle paddle back to Grantchester, but with easy conditions and more time available we then headed further down the river to another weir about 1 mile away from our starting point. This was lovely addition to the paddle as something new for most of us, nice route taking us under some welcomed tree covering that section of the river and giving us shade from the late afternoon sunshine. Stunning conditions for yet another great trip to Cambridge for our paddle on the Cam, we look forward to next years trip already. Cheers Dan Photos Supplied: Various Club Members

Looking back at our highlights from the 2026 kayak season so far.... A perfect summer evening on the River Crouch with barely a ripple on the water, a low tide exposing the river’s hidden features, and a stunning sunset to finish the paddle. 🌅 Looking back through this year’s photos, it’s incredible to see just how much we’ve packed into the season so far. 🌊🚣 From relaxed evening paddles and stunning sunsets on the River Crouch, to skills sessions, rescues, away trips and exploring new stretches of water, it’s been a fantastic few months for the club. It’s also been brilliant to welcome so many new members. Watching confidence grow from first-time paddlers to people happily joining longer trips and developing new skills is what our club is all about. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped, encouraged and supported others both on and off the water. Whether you’ve joined us for one paddle or every Wednesday evening or a weekend paddle, you’ve all helped make this such a busy, friendly and enjoyable year. Here’s to plenty more adventures, new friendships, and many more miles on the water before the season is over. See you on the River Crouch! 🌅 Cheers Dan Photos Supplied: Various Club Members

Thursday 30th July - Club Paddle focused on Wet Exits and Recovery Training Session. A perfect summer evening on the River Crouch with barely a ripple on the water, a low tide exposing the river’s hidden features, and a stunning sunset to finish the paddle. 🌅🛶 This week’s club paddle was split into two groups. One group headed just outside Creeksea to focus on essential safety skills, practising controlled capsizes, self-rescues, assisted rescues, and paddle float re-entries. It’s always great to see paddlers growing in confidence and developing the skills that make sea kayaking both safer and more enjoyable. Meanwhile, the second group enjoyed a relaxed paddle up to Bridgemarsh Marina before turning back to meet us on the return journey, making the most of the calm conditions and beautiful evening. A fantastic night on the water, with something for everyone—whether building confidence through practical skills or simply enjoying the tranquillity of the River Crouch. Thanks to everyone who came along and made it another brilliant club evening! The more we practise, the more prepared we become when it really matters. 🌊 🛟 We’re excited to introduce Paddle Points , a brand-new section on our blog dedicated to all things kayak-related. Here, you’ll find a treasure trove of useful information, from choosing the right equipment and mastering essential techniques, to kayak safety tips, maintenance advice, and insider knowledge from seasoned paddlers. We’re kicking things off with a focus on kayak safety and skill-building, sharing a curated collection of rescue and technique videos to help you paddle with more confidence, control, and enjoyment. Whether you’re just starting out or refining advanced manoeuvres, online kayak training videos are an invaluable resource for paddlers of every level. From quick tips on grip and stance to step-by-step guidance on complex rescues, these expert-led clips bring the coach straight to your screen. Think of it as your own floating instructor, 24/7 Paddle Points available any time you need guidance… and without the soggy shoes. Here’s our recommended learning path: Online Resource Video's The below resources are publicly available from across YouTube channels, below are selection we believe you may find useful. Getting Past “Tippy Kayak”, and learning to edge your kayak - Click Here Advanced Manoeuvres - Click Here Edging a turn in a sea Kayak - Click Here / Turning tips - edging your kayak - Click Here Learning the reflective brace - Click Here Sea Kayak T Rescue - Click Here Sea Kayak Safety Equipment - Click Here Sea Kayak Safety Line - Click Here Self Rescue Training Drills - Click Here / Self Rescue - Cowboy Style - Click Here / Float Self Rescue - Click Here Worth watching this further video as it’s good example of how to get both boats away from any dangers before attempting the T Rescue style - Click Here Pool Sessions As mentioned before, this is an excellent opportunity to practise a variety of strokes, refine your rescue techniques, and generally sharpen your skills, whether you’re a newcomer to paddling or a seasoned kayaker looking to stay at the top of your game. Future Pool Sessions Planned for CKC Members 19th September - 17th October - 21st November Cheers Dan Photos Supplied: Various Club Members

Wednesday 22nd July - Club Paddle focused on Wet Exits and Recovery Training Session. A fun and rewarding evening on the River Crouch, with the focus firmly on building confidence and developing essential safety skills. The session included capsize practice, self rescues, assisted rescues and towing techniques, all in increasingly breezy conditions as we paddled past Black Point towards Easter Reach. The changing conditions made for some realistic practice and highlighted just how important these skills are. Dan even managed a full 360° rotation inside his kayak cockpit, followed by a brief spell standing up in his kayak—not an easy challenge with a tidal current and the wind pushing from behind! The evening wasn’t just about getting wet. Every exercise was followed by practical discussion and reflection on what worked well, what could be improved, and how we can continue to develop as a group. We also looked at different rescue techniques, the equipment we carry, and how best to deploy it in a variety of situations. Next week we’ll have another opportunity to build on these skills, this time practising at low water in the middle of the river, where the environment will present a different set of challenges. The more we practise, the more prepared we become when it really matters. 🌊 🛟 We’re excited to introduce Paddle Points , a brand-new section on our blog dedicated to all things kayak-related. Here, you’ll find a treasure trove of useful information, from choosing the right equipment and mastering essential techniques, to kayak safety tips, maintenance advice, and insider knowledge from seasoned paddlers. We’re kicking things off with a focus on kayak safety and skill-building, sharing a curated collection of rescue and technique videos to help you paddle with more confidence, control, and enjoyment. Whether you’re just starting out or refining advanced manoeuvres, online kayak training videos are an invaluable resource for paddlers of every level. From quick tips on grip and stance to step-by-step guidance on complex rescues, these expert-led clips bring the coach straight to your screen. Think of it as your own floating instructor, 24/7 Paddle Points available any time you need guidance… and without the soggy shoes. Here’s our recommended learning path: Online Resource Video's The below resources are publicly available from across YouTube channels, below are selection we believe you may find useful. Getting Past “Tippy Kayak”, and learning to edge your kayak - Click Here Advanced Manoeuvres - Click Here Edging a turn in a sea Kayak - Click Here / Turning tips - edging your kayak - Click Here Learning the reflective brace - Click Here Sea Kayak T Rescue - Click Here Sea Kayak Safety Equipment - Click Here Sea Kayak Safety Line - Click Here Self Rescue Training Drills - Click Here / Self Rescue - Cowboy Style - Click Here / Float Self Rescue - Click Here Worth watching this further video as it’s good example of how to get both boats away from any dangers before attempting the T Rescue style - Click Here Pool Sessions As mentioned before, this is an excellent opportunity to practise a variety of strokes, refine your rescue techniques, and generally sharpen your skills, whether you’re a newcomer to paddling or a seasoned kayaker looking to stay at the top of your game. Future Pool Sessions Planned for CKC Members 19th September - 17th October - 21st November Cheers Dan Photos Supplied: Various Club Members

Saturday 18th July - Club Paddle of Wallasea Island. Clockwise navigation of Wallasea Island with lunch break at Paglesham Boatyard before heading to cross the road into Lion Creek. As it was a 5:13m high tide, not high enough to paddle directly across the road this time. We look forward to repeating this paddle on further high-tides across August, October and December. Cheers Dan Photos Supplied: Various Club Members

Wednesday 15th July - Club Paddle focused on Wet Exits and Recovery Training Session. A brilliant evening out on the River Crouch, making the most of the quiet river and the exposed mudflats up near Black Point on an exceptionally low -0.17m tide. With the earlier strong winds easing just in time, conditions were perfect for getting in some valuable rescue practice. Plenty of time was spent cooling off in the river while practising assisted re-entries into our kayaks—building confidence, improving skills, and having plenty of laughs along the way. The unusually low tide also revealed parts of the riverbed that many of us haven’t seen for years, giving a fascinating glimpse of the Crouch from a completely different perspective. Another great club evening combining skills, safety, and a reminder that every paddle on the River Crouch offers something a little different. 🌅  Cheers Dan Photos Supplied: Various Club Members