Return of Regular Paddles - Please Read

Details

By Mark Corti

Our much-loved Regular Members Paddles are back!  On Wednesday evenings (5:30 for 6pm) and Sunday mornings (9:30 for 10am) we'll be meeting at the Club (and occasionally elsewhere - see the calendar) for a paddle.  To accomodate our lovely newer members, they'll be running a little differently - please read carefully:

• if you're a competent paddler and are happy keeping up with the main group, just turn up as usual!  This will be an informal peer paddle with no leading.
• if you're a newer paddler and would like a bit more support, you must book in advance via the calendar.  There will be river leader - coach, PAA, experienced paddler - waiting for you.  (If you haven't booked on, then you may not be able to paddle). 
• if you're a PAA, coach, or experienced paddler willing to help out occasionally with newer paddlers, please contact Geoff - even if you help just once a year it helps to spread the load!

Looking forward to seeing you all on the water!

Coach Training - All Weekend

Details

By Mark Corti

Just a heads-up that there's a coach training course running at the Club all weekend (7/8 August), so it's possible that the upstairs areas will be in use for all / part of these.  This means that the gym is likely to be unavailable - apologies in advance.

End-of-season Beginner Courses

Details

By Mark Corti

We've added a few more courses for the last months of our  season - if you'd like to come paddling with Maidstone Canoe Club in 2021, this might be your last chance!  

We've got spaces on courses running on Sunday August 22nd, Tuesday 24th August, and Saturday 9th October.  See you on the water!

SUPop

Details

By Mark Corti

Just a reminder to please take extra care of the Club kit, particularly the SUPs in hot weather.  A fully-inflated SUP left in the sun will burst - one already has - so please partially-deflate them before putting htem away and particularly don't leave them fully inflated on the grass or car park.  (Pumps can be found at the back of hte boat shed to reinflate them).  If you're not sure how to deflate / inflate a SUP, please don't use them until you've found out!  (Lee can help with this).

It's probably also a good time to remind people about making sure skegs are up, as there's been some damage to these also.  You shouldn't be needing them on the Medway in any case! 

And the perennial plea to please empty & spnge out your boat if it's wet ...

NEW - Junior Paddle Club

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By Mark Corti

Paddling is always more fun with friends!

Our NEW Junior Paddle Club starts this week for all our junior (8 - 16) Club members.  You'll need your Discover Award to come along (drop us a line if you don't have it but can already paddle), and it is going to be awesome - games, fun and kayaks.  What could be better?

Easing of lockdown 19th July 21

Details

By Geoff Orford

Following the Government announcement that Lockdown restrictions will be fully lifted on 19 July, the committee have agreed that until the rate of infection subsides, the following restrictions will apply at the Club. We believe this decision is in line with the precautionary words of the briefing and we feel as a committee we have a duty of care to all our members.

For now, the following restrictions will remain in place:

Face coverings to be worn in buildings.

Keep numbers to the minimum in  the indoor facilities, changing rooms, toilets, kitchen and gym area. Teas and coffee can be made but please ensure that after use all crockery and cutlery is washed, dried, and put away. Probably better still to use your own container. If you use the coffee/tea etc. provided please don’t forget kitty box. Please do not congregate in the kitchen.

Hand sanitiser will continue to be provided so please use these when entering the clubhouse.

Showers can be used again but single use only please.

General paddling will resume at 9.30 am on a Sunday  and 5.30 pm on a Wednesday, other smaller groups will be available where leaders are willing to run them.

Club boats and equipment should be sanitised after use. Please avoid crowding the boat shed and landing stage.

Please continue to use the NHS check and trace app.

These measures will be reviewed monthly at committee meetings.

GT River Ouse Trip

Details

By Geoff Orford

The Great Ouse trip that Mike Lambourne organised for 2020 was postponed to August 6th to 11th this year. Unfortunately some of those coming have had to drop out so there are place available for those who can make it. Boats and transport can be provided if you are relatively new to Kayaking. For further details please contact Mike ASAP as we will need to cancel the campsite places soon. [email protected].  

It's not where you go ...

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By Mark Corti

... it's who you paddle with.

Huge thanks to Michaela and Tom for organising what was the most welcome reunion for MCC's whitewater boaters.  Being on the Tryweryn, a river we know and love, with good friends was absolutely the finest way to spend the weekend.  It was a long overdue return to everything that's best about normality.  Congrats also to those who completed their Whitewater Leader training and Whitewater Safety and Rescue courses over the weekend - we're all looking forward to a fantastic whitewater season!