Group of paddlers standing on either side of the dragonboat.

There are lots of little jobs that need taking care of on the day of a paddle so we ask people to arrive early to help out. Please try to get involved to the best of your ability.

The Equipment

  • We have storage space in the left hand boatshed where we store buoyancy aids (there are three sizes, 30-50Kg, 50-70Kg, 70Kg+) and paddles.
  • The first people into the boat shed will put out the boxes with the buoyancy aids.
  • One or two people will pick up enough paddles for the whole boat and take them down to the gates where we’ll bring the boat to the waters edge.
  • On return from the lake, paddles and buoyancy aids need to be collected and returned to the boatshed.
  • If there is no-one else at the sailing club, then the boatshed must be locked before everyone leaves.
Plastic boxes containing buoyancy aids are in plastic boxes on the ground waiting for paddles to collect them.
Buoyancy aids
Dragonboat paddles stacked against the boatyard gate. There are small boats in the background, trees and blue sky.
Paddles

The Boat

  • Whoever gets there first starts to empty any collected water on the boat cover. There are scoops in the boat to do this with.
  • Next we take off the boat cover, roll it up and store nearby.
  • The next steps need at least 8 people to lift and move the boat to the lakeside. The sequence is as follows:
    • The ‘dolly’ (a frame on wheels that enables us to move the boat) is rolled up underneath from one end of the boat to the middle (this requires one person holding the dolly on each side).
    • Once the dolly is in place 8 + people are needed to move the boat from its mooring space to the lake launch. Two people – one at each end of the boat take responsibility for steering the boat on its way to the launch point.
    • The boat is pushed into the lake, and the dolly is wheeled back from the shore to a safe place out of the way of other people launching boats.
  • Once we come off the water, we reverse the journey taking the boat back to the mooring spot. The dolly is moved to one end, and the boat is tilted on its long edge slightly to help prevent water collecting in the cover. The cover is placed back on the boat and secured tightly with the bungee cords provided.

This is an important part of the process and many hands make light work.

The dragonboat has a cover on it which has collected a lot of water. Paddlers are around the boat using scoops to bail out the water.
Paddlers bailing rain water off the boat cover

The paddlers

  • Stow anything valuable in your car or in the waterproof hold-all on the boat.
  • Pick up a buoyancy aid from outside the boatshed.
  • There is a warm up before we go on the water – take part and if you want to lead this there are instructions provided.
  • Collect a paddle.
  • The helm will ask people if they want to paddle on the left or right side of the boat and draw up a boat plan. We find that which side of the boat you are most comfortable in has nothing to do with whether you are left or right handed. If you’re not sure then you can try both sides and see which you prefer.
  • There is a cool down after paddling – again we are always looking for volunteers to lead this.
  • Everyone is welcome back at the clubhouse for tea/coffee and cake after the boat and equipment has been packed away.
Members are enjoying cups of tea and pieces of cake after a paddle. They are sitting outside the club house on a long picnic table. There is a picnic umbrella up. Everyone is looking towards the camera and smiling.

The lake and weather

Paddling all depends on the water conditions and of course the weather (strong wind) is our enemy! Using the apps listed below a small group check the indications in the days leading up to a paddle and make decisions together via a weather WhatsApp group. Let us know if you would like to join this group.

Weather

https://www.windguru.cz/28773
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/gcpn7mp10#2019-10-06
https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2640729