February 2025 Newsletter

Goodbye January! The evening are getting lighter and hopefully the weather will begin to be kinder to us!

We only managed 1 night paddle in January but the pool session on 1st February was well supported with 4

members taking advantage of the free refresher session capsizing in the warm safe environment. Why not

join us for the next session on 1st March? If you come to the pool just to demonstrate and practise your

capsize with one of the leaders, not only will you not need to capsize when we get back on the river at the

start of the season when the water is not as balmy as in the pool but it will also be

… Let us know you’re coming and the leaders will be ready to help you – full details further in the

Newsletter

AGM

The AGM will take place on Sunday 23rd February in the Darwin Room at The Hengistbury Head Centre from 1030

– 1130. A formal notice will be sent out in due course but please add the date to your diary. We really do value

Members input and hope you can all attend.Programme February to March 2025

Sunday 16th February – Weekend Paddle 1330 for 1400 on the water

Sunday 23rd February – AGM, Darwin Room 1030 – 1130

Saturday 1st March – Pool Session, Two Rivers Meet 1845 – 1945 – Book via Webcollect and let Ken know which boat

you need. If you are coming to demonstrate your capsize – please let Ken know reagan_k@hotmail.co.uk

Thursday 6th March – Night paddle 1800 for 1830 on the water

Sunday 9th March – Pre-season boat clean 1000

Sunday 16th March – Weekend Paddle 1000 for 1030 on the water

The first paddle of the 2025 Summer Season will be on Thursday 25th April

Basingstoke Canal Trip 6th

– 8th June 2025

Evan is planning a club camping trip on the Basingstoke canal over the weekend 6-7-8 June (camping 6-7

and paddle 7-8).

On the Saturday he’s hoping to do a paddle from the Basingstoke canal centre at Mychett which is the

same place as the campsite which goes through a nature reserve lake at the back of the Deepcut Army

barracks and cross an aqueduct. Approximately 5 miles.

On the Sunday the plan is to go from Odiham which is on route home down to the Greywell tunnel with a

stop at the historic King Johns Castle, also about 5 miles.

Both paddles are easy and suitable for any grade of paddler and any type of boat or paddle board, however

a sea kayak will be unwieldy and difficult to turn on a canal.

If you don’t fancy camping either day is doable as a day trip being within 1 1/2 hours drive from

Bournemouth in normal traffic.

There will be options for a pub dinner the Friday evening, BBQ on the Saturday evening and Sunday lunch

in a pub with a working waterwheel inside the pub.

We will update with prices for camping and contact details for the trip by club circular email when the

Basingstoke canal trust release them and open for bookings early in February but please make a note of

the dates if you’re interested.

We often meet up over the Autumn / Winter period to share our favourite walks. Please feel free to

suggest routes / dates if you would like to organise and share.

We always welcome additional volunteers to help with the running of the club – just contact one of the

committee if you would like to get involved

SEE YOU ON THE WATER!