Paddleboarding

 

Have you discovered and grown to love the calming exercise of Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)? It is a fast growing activity, and Blithfield Sailing Club has a superb stretch of clean, fresh water. There are gorgeous, countryside views as you head out into the largest reservoir in Staffordshire. When you return it is always to a safe, mud free slipway, with the promise of a hot shower and pleasant club house to relax in. Our water is free of mud and weed, and has never yet been closed in drought conditions. It is a pleasure to be paddling out there...

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Blithfield is a very friendly and welcoming club, with a diverse membership enjoying many different water sports. The club has a number of different paddle boards which you are welcome to try as you build stamina, or may wish to increase your speed. Or maybe you prefer a stable board on a windy day, or a hot day where you want to sit and dangle your legs in the water. The club boards are free for members to use and enjoy.

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Safety is always in everyone's mind; and we ask you to follow some rules to keep you safe such as always using a buoyancy aid. When you first join Warren Gee (our SUP lead) will give you a brief safety introduction so that you are familiar with how we operate. Sometimes a rescue RIB is manned, mostly on training and dinghy racing days. At all other times members are required to go out in a Buddy arrangement, so that there is always another person looking out for you. The club maintains a diesel boat on the pontoon. Before heading onto the water buddy members place the rudder and key in the boat so that it is ready to go out to support anyone exhausted or in difficulties. 

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There are WhatsApp groups to allow members to confirm when other club members are going to be there and to act as buddies. This helps foster a very social group, using the fine club house. The Clubhouse is the base for events, such as BBQ’s and Picnics, and a terrace overlooking the water where you can sit back with a drink from the bar and simply relax!

 

If you have not been before and would like to visit, do please drop an email to enquiries@blithfield.org.uk or message on 07817 143088 so that we can arrange a convenient time for you to call in, when we can show you round.

 

Blithfield has different classes of membership and the SUP membership has a very competitive annual fee, which makes it easy to join. So please do come to visit us and gain a feeling for the place - or simply join! Yes, our SUP membership price is very low, but the SUP membership class is restricted to Stand Up Paddleboarding and clubhouse activities. When you see the other water sports that are available at the club (recreational dinghy sailing, racing, windsurfing, wing foiling etc) you may want to participate in those as well. The good news is that it is easy to upgrade your membership at any time and join in the extra fun; just contact the Membership Secretary.

 

The club runs training courses to introduce you to sailing and windsurfing; courses are much cheaper for members (including SUP members), so you may wish to try the courses first and upgrade your membership if you think that the sport is for you.

Whatever you decide to do, we hope that you join Blithfield and have a lot of fun here. We do!