It’s time for Wokingham Canoe Club annual Cardboard Boat Race. It’s a challenge for all the family where you have to design, construct and race a boat made of cardboard. Come along and see if your ideas will float.

Starting at10 o’clock, teams have two hours in which to build a one man craft using the provided heap of empty cardboard boxes and other rationed items.

The craft are then taken to the water for a race of both endurance and speed and the paddler who spends the longest time dry wins.

The Rules

1. Each team consists of 3 - 6 people, there must be at least one adult in each team.
2. Boats can be designed in advance but no construction to take place before the 2 hour building time.
3. Only tools and materials provided may be used.
4. Teams must visibly mark their team name on the boat.
5. Points will be awarded for design and construction.
6. A minimum of one team member must ride in/on the boat during each race.
7. Team members will be allowed to help stabilise the boat at the start of each race, but must be no more than one arm’s length from the starting edge.
8. Each craft will be paddled across the river and back, points will be awarded for distance covered. Any craft still seaworthy will then race each other to decide the overall winner.

Phil Milman

This trip is suitable for everyone and everything except very short boats.

From the River Wey, the Basingstoke Canal passes unobtrusively through lush vegetation, rolling heathland and woods. Much of the canal is home to a rich habitat of flora and fauna. Originally a trading route for timber and agricultural goods, it went on to transport building materials for railway construction.

We are planning to meet at the Centre at 9:30am to organise boats and transport, then head on to our starting point, the car park opposite The Barley Mow Pub (Barley Mow, The Hurst, Winchfield, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 8DE, Grid ref: SU 778 538) at 10:30am.

We will paddle up the Basingstoke Canal, stop to eat our lunch before paddling back down the canal to return to the vehicles. Remember to check the weather forecast and dress accordingly. Bring your packed lunch. If you need to borrow any club equipment, this must be agreed by the Recreation Officer, and signed out in the book.

If you are interested in joining this trip, please send your answers to the questions below to me, put your name on the sheet on the club notice board, or ring me. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss anything, please contact me.

Also keep an eye on the club website for news on all aspects of the club, there is a list of all the planned trips for the year please feel free to comment and suggest rivers.

Phil Milman
Events and Trips Organiser

• Name/s of people
• Contact Number
• Are you a member of the Canoe Club
• Craft: Canoe or Kayak
• Relevant experience / BCU qualifications
• Do you need to borrow any equipment (Please list)
• Do you require transport
• Are you able to provide transport for others
• What are your aims for the day (eg. journey for star award / fun)
• Do you object to your photograph being taken
• Do you object to photographs being used for advertising WCC or WWC

All under 18’s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult and complete a Parental Consent Form. Please ensure it is brought with you.

Okay, I admit it!  I completely forgot to organize the last surfing trip in May so let’s see if I can get everybody to come on this one instead.

As the weather has been so nice lately the river levels tend to be a bit low this time of year.  But thanks to the wonders of global warming the sea should be okay to paddle in.

This trip is suitable for everyone.

We will be camping at Lobbs Field Campsite near Croyde Bay and then heading down to the beach for a couple of days of chasing waves.

So bring you can bring your kayak, body board or even a surf board (or maybe just a towel and suncream) and discover that there is more to this kayaking thing than just messing around on rivers.

Croyde Bay in Devon is best known for its beach and with its wide sheltered bay ideal for bathing and excellent surfing.

The beach is privately owned and has lifeguards patrols between May and September. Baggy Point and the adjoining National Trust land provides delightful walking with excellent views. Cycling, horse riding, golf and tennis are all available locally.

There are a variety of restaurants and pubs in the area, along with numerous options for accommodation to make your stay in North Devon an enjoyable one, no matter what time of year you visit.

Obviously we are dependent upon wind direction and height of surf so as a back up plan I was thinking of saucing some sea kayaks so we can head out into the big blue sea instead.  Check out www.magicseaweed.com for surf reports.

The is a white water trip so if you need to borrow any equipment from the club make sure you arrange it with the Recreation Officer, and signed out in the book.

So I hope you will join us on the sea, if you are interested, send me an e-mail answering the questions below.

Phil Milman

• Names of people
• Contact Telephone Number
• Are you a member of the Canoe Club
• Craft: Canoe or Kayak
• Previous Experience or BCU qualifications
• Do you need to borrow any equipment [please list]
• Do you require transport
• Are you able to provide transport for others
• Which days will you be paddling [Sat/Sun]
• Which nights will you require accommodation [Fri/Sat]
• What are your aims for the weekend [fun/star training]
• Do you object to your photograph being taken
• Do you object to photographs being used for advertising WCC or WWC

All under 18’s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult and complete a Junior Consent Form. Please ensure it is brought with you.

This trip is suitable for competent one star paddlers

We will be based at Bracelands Campsite (Bracelands Drive, Christchurch, Coleford, Gloucester GL16 7NN Tel: 01594 837258) -  A Forestry Commission site in the Forest of Dean.

A spacious site, Bracelands provides panoramic views of the magnificent countryside over Highmeadow Woods and the Wye Valley. The copper beech trees are a striking feature of the site. At Symond’s Yat, watch peregrine falcons wheeling from their nests on the cliffs.

They prefer us not to book in as a group, so everyone needs to check in and pay on arrival. We will aim to camp reasonably close together so look out for faces you recognise! I am hoping to arrive early and will advertise WCC on my tent!

Parking at the Yat is £3 per vehicle, and there is a £1 per boat launch fee. However, parking is limited at the Yat so it would be great for people to arrange to share cars, either from the campsite or from Wokingham.

For those arriving Saturday, either come to the campsite, or we will aim to be at Symonds Yat car park at around 10:30am, I’ll have my phone on so ring me it you’re unsure.

Depending upon water levels and individual preferences, we could split into morning and afternoon groups for the rapids. There will also be the option of a short river trip.

Remember to bring food and cooking equipment for breakfasts and lunches, I believe there is a reasonable pub nearby for those wishing to dine out Saturday evening.

This is a moving water trip - if you need to borrow any equipment from the club, it must be agreed by the Recreation Officer, and signed out in the book.

I hope you will join us on the river, if you are interested, send me an e-mail answering the questions below.

Phil Milman

• Names of people
• Contact Telephone Number
• Are you a member of the Canoe Club
• Craft: Canoe or Kayak
• Previous Experience or BCU qualifications
• Do you need to borrow any equipment [please list]
• Do you require transport
• Are you able to provide transport for others
• Which days will you be paddling [Sat/Sun]
• Which nights will you require accommodation [Fri/Sat]
• What are your aims for the weekend [fun/star training]
• Do you object to your photograph being taken
• Do you object to photographs being used for advertising WCC or WWC

All under 18’s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult and complete a Junior Consent Form. Please ensure it is brought with you.

There be booty about the centre if ya can find it, join a posse of pirates to head out and find the hidden gold chocolate bullion.

Okay, enough of that,  join us at the Wokingham Waterside Centre for our annual Treasure Hunt, travel the Thames and find the clues to lead you to the hidden treasure.

This trip is suitable for everyone.

We will be camping at Lobbs Field Campsite near Croyde Bay and then heading down to the beach for a couple of days of chasing waves.

So bring you can bring your kayak, body board or even a surf board (or maybe just a towel and suncream) and discover that there is more to this kayaking thing than just messing around on rivers.

Croyde Bay in Devon is best known for its beach and with its wide sheltered bay ideal for bathing and excellent surfing.

The beach is privately owned and has lifeguards patrols between May and September. Baggy Point and the adjoining National Trust land provides delightful walking with excellent views. Cycling, horse riding, golf and tennis are all available locally.

There are a variety of restaurants and pubs in the area, along with numerous options for accommodation to make your stay in North Devon an enjoyable one, no matter what time of year you visit.

Obviously we are dependent upon wind direction and height of surf so as a back up plan I was thinking of saucing some sea kayaks so we can head out into the big blue sea instead.  Check out www.magicseaweed.com for surf reports.

The is a white water trip so if you need to borrow any equipment from the club make sure you arrange it with the Recreation Officer, and signed out in the book.

So I hope you will join us on the sea, if you are interested, send me an e-mail answering the questions below.

Phil Milman

• Names of people
• Contact Telephone Number
• Are you a member of the Canoe Club
• Craft: Canoe or Kayak
• Previous Experience or BCU qualifications
• Do you need to borrow any equipment [please list]
• Do you require transport
• Are you able to provide transport for others
• Which days will you be paddling [Sat/Sun]
• Which nights will you require accommodation [Fri/Sat]
• What are your aims for the weekend [fun/star training]
• Do you object to your photograph being taken
• Do you object to photographs being used for advertising WCC or WWC

All under 18’s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult and complete a Junior Consent Form. Please ensure it is brought with you.

We are thinking of heading over to Llandysul Paddlers Canoe Centre.  Located on the bank of the river Teifi  and overlooking a slalom course, that’s good for working on your skills.

Please talk to the Recreation Officer if you are unsure of this trips suitability.

The is a white water trip so if you need to borrow any equipment from the club make sure you arrange it with the Recreation Officer, and signed out in the book.

So I hope you will join us on the river, if you are interested, send me an e-mail answering the questions below.

Phil Milman

• Names of people
• Contact Telephone Number
• Are you a member of the Canoe Club
• Craft: Canoe or Kayak
• Previous Experience or BCU qualifications
• Do you need to borrow any equipment [please list]
• Do you require transport
• Are you able to provide transport for others
• Which days will you be paddling [Sat/Sun]
• Which nights will you require accommodation [Fri/Sat]
• What are your aims for the weekend [fun/star training]
• Do you object to your photograph being taken
• Do you object to photographs being used for advertising WCC or WWC

All under 18’s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult and complete a Junior Consent Form. Please ensure it is brought with you.

Halloween is getting close so let’s have a night time paddle up the River Styx Thames.

This will be a centre based paddle and we are planning to start at 4 o’clock in time to see the sun sink away and the night draw in. Return to the centre for a cauldron of eye of newt soup (only joking it’ll just be plain old vegetable).

As this is a night time paddle all boats need to be lit, so try your best to do this in a spooky way.  There will be a prize for the best fancy dress and carved pumpkin.

The river tolls will be 50p for Juniors and £1 for adults, Warning:  fines will be issued for mundane dress.

The last trip had to be cancelled due to lack of number so I will try and resurrect the trip of these date, we where planning on staying at the William Pengelly Camping Barn in Buckfastleigh.

Please talk to the Recreation Officer if you are unsure of this trips suitability.

The is a white water trip so if you need to borrow any equipment from the club make sure you arrange it with the Recreation Officer, and signed out in the book.

So I hope you will join us on the river, if you are interested, send me an e-mail answering the questions below.

Phil Milman
Events and Trips

• Names of people
• Contact Telephone Number
• Are you a member of the Canoe Club
• Craft: Canoe or Kayak
• Previous Experience or BCU qualifications
• Do you need to borrow any equipment [please list]
• Do you require transport
• Are you able to provide transport for others
• Which days will you be paddling [Sat/Sun]
• Which nights will you require accommodation [Fri/Sat]
• What are your aims for the weekend [fun/star training]
• Do you object to your photograph being taken
• Do you object to photographs being used for advertising WCC or WWC

All under 18’s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult and complete a Junior Consent Form. Please ensure it is brought with you.

Please talk to the Recreation Officer if you are unsure of this trips suitability.

You camp on the bank of the Tyne in Hexham, located just below the merger of the North and South Tyne, paddling is dependent on water levels, on this river, bad weather means good paddling!
 
The is a white water trip so if you need to borrow any equipment from the club make sure you arrange it with the Recreation Officer, and signed out in the book.

So I hope you will join us on the river, if you are interested, send me an e-mail answering the questions below.

Phil Milman

• Names of people
• Contact Telephone Number
• Are you a member of the Canoe Club
• Craft: Canoe or Kayak
• Previous Experience or BCU qualifications
• Do you need to borrow any equipment [please list]
• Do you require transport
• Are you able to provide transport for others
• Which days will you be paddling [Sat/Sun]
• Which nights will you require accommodation [Fri/Sat]
• What are your aims for the weekend [fun/star training]
• Do you object to your photograph being taken
• Do you object to photographs being used for advertising WCC or WWC

All under 18’s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult and complete a Junior Consent Form. Please ensure it is brought with you.