Hello! We are delighted to be working with Essex Waterways Limited again this year to bring you our 8th beloved annual 'City to the Sea' Frangipani SUP Riders explore for HUB members. From Chelmsford to Heybridge Basin, along the length of the glorious Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation, approximately 22km (14 miles). Stopping for coffee, cake, sandwiches etc. at the half way point at Paper Mill Lock. Such a great thing to do with our local and experienced BSUPA Level 2 Tour Guides helping and encouraging you every stroke of the journey!

For this explore you will need to already have your BSUPA "Ready to Ride" certificate or equivalent and be a competent paddler, who can lift and carry a SUP board and get back on it unaided from the water, should you fall in! (You will be asked to confirm these details when you make your booking.)

We colour code all of our Frangipani SUP Riders explores and this is a solid BLUE explore. It is longer and more challenging than our usual blue explores and is suitable for more experienced paddlers. The tour is approximately 22km long with lots of lifting and portaging (carrying) your board/bag in and out at locks. It takes most of the day and is physically tiring. As such you must be capable of paddling and portaging the whole 22km. We will help you as much as we can but have our own kit to carry. Although it is helpful to have been out with us before on one of our green explores, we recognise that this may not have been possible. Please see the members area on our website www.FrangipaniSUP.com for information about our explore colour codes.

So in a nutshell, please do not book yourself onto this explore if you don't feel totally able to complete the distance, thank you! If you have any questions or concerns about any of this, please call Mike on 07597 094233 to discuss before making your booking, thanks.

To come on this explore you will need to:

-be over 18 years old,

-able to swim 25m clothed,

-a member of the Frangipani SUP HUB 2022,

-accept the online disclaimer and complete the online the booking questions when you make your booking. If you don’t your booking will be automatically cancelled and your money refunded. (You will also be required to complete a paper disclaimer and questionnaire on the day, if you haven't paddled with us already in 2022. Thanks.)

-bring your own SUP board (with third party insurance), paddle, coiled leash and all your own kit,

-bring and wear footwear and a personal buoyancy aid/personal flotation belt (this is mandatory).

-bring a small dry bag, a small first aid kit, a small bottle of hand sanitizer, a bottle of water, spare layers/waterproof clothing, energy snacks, money for the tea rooms/pub, keys, any medications you may need, bug spray if you need it, and your phone in a waterproof pouch. If it’s sunny please bring an old baseball hat and sun cream.

-get yourself and all your kit to the start point (Springfield Basin, Wharf Road, Chelmsford CM2 6LU)

-take care of all your vehicle parking arrangements and charges (you are fully responsible for checking height restrictions, opening/closing times and payment methods https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/parking-and-travel/find-a-car-park/)

-get yourself and all your kit home from the finish point (Daisy Meadow Carpark, Heybridge Basin, Maldon, CM9 4RW) THERE IS NOW A CHARGE FOR THIS ANPR CARPARK

-when you make you booking you will need to provide the name and mobile phone contact details of someone who you have organised and agreed to come and collect you along the route, in the event of you wanting to stop or in the event of an emergency.

Due to strict BSUPA ratios, we are restricted in the number of people we can take on this explore to 20. Each guide assisted by another, can take upto 10 people in his/her group & we will endeavour to group people based on their speed and experience. We will try and put you with your family/friends, if they have booked too, but we cannot guarantee it. Please let us know ASAP by email once you have booked if you want us to try to group you with family/friends, and we will try our best.

Cost: HUB Member £20 Please note that you need a license from Essex Waterway's Limited (EWL) licence for this paddle. If you don't have one, please add it as an optional extra at checkout.

We meet at Springfield Basin at 7am with a briefing at 7:30am and plan to all be launched by 8am. IMPORTANT: Please note that this is a residential area with people asleep in the flats above us so PLEASE, PLEASE keep the noise down. NO ISUPS CAN BE PUMPED UP HERE - PLEASE BRING THEM ALREADY INFLATED- THANK YOU.

Will stop for early brunch half way at the Old Stables Tea Rooms at Paper Mill Lock and then paddle on to Heybridge Basin, for a well deserved beverage in the pub! You can expect to arrive at Heybridge from approximately 2pm-4pm depending on the speed of your group. We will have a support car on route to carry extra or heavier items (such as pumps, water, clothing etc.)

Any problems or questions please give Mike a call on 07597 094233. Mahalo!

BOOKINGS SHUT AT 12 NOON ON THURSDAY 6TH OCTOBER - THANK YOU

Paddle from the City to the Sea and have a great day!