A group paddle around Osea Island in Heybridge Basin , Essex . Photo : James Crisp / Crisp Photography been talking to BC for some time about how we operate and how we could work together and were asked to speak at their AGM about the success of East of England Paddlesports . While we were there , we started to discuss affiliation in a little more detail and soon realized the process had to be very different for us ; for example , we are not a club that takes membership fees , nor do we have a treasurer or chair or hold AGMs . So we took the documents and their process , adapted them to our operating model and worked it through over a few Zoom meetings !
SUPM came into contact with you because of your SUP activities . Are you at some point looking to expand activities into sea kayaking , canoeing , etc .?
We have never been just about SUP , though our group could probably be split 60 % SUP , 35 % kayak and 5 % canoe ! We are a Paddlesports group and encourage all forms of safe , responsible grassroots paddling in kayak , canoe and SUP . All our events are for multi-craft , as long as they have a paddle . We have occasionally created kayak-only events due to the conditions , distances , etc .
Which has been your most successful event run through the group , and why ?
We organize various activities , from small short paddles to camping trips to adventures overseas . Our biggest single-trip event was a paddle around Osea Island in Heybridge Basin in Essex . We worked with Stone Sailing Club and the Essex Police Marine Unit , and the event was attended by almost 100 paddlers , SUP and kayak – big thanks to James Crisp / Crisp Photography for the amazing drone shot ! We find that our easygoing and safe , responsible style makes people feel comfortable joining . Mix this in with different and new locations , friendly word-of-mouth comments and good weather , and we ’ re winning !
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