Deben Canoe Club

Welcome to new paddlers

Welcome to the Deben Canoe Club.

This is the page for anyone interested in starting to paddle with our club.

The first thing to know is that we are a members club and cannot really host one-off guest paddlers. This page sets out the process for prospective new members to try our club before they commit to membership. We allow prospective members to attend three club paddles before deciding if they still want to join as full members. This limit is set by our insurers - you need to have formally joined the club before you attend a fourth event otherwise we are not properly insured. This page covers two main topics:

• the administrative process for having some try-out paddles with us, and
• the practicalities for deciding when and how to attend a particular paddle for a try-out

The next things to know are that all of our paddles are led by experienced paddlers who have formal paddle leadership qualifications recognised by Paddle UK. We can supply all of the kit needed to paddle, for a small fee. Participants simply need to turn up in good time dressed in comfortable clothes which they don't mind getting wet and muddy. Of course, many of our members (and prospective members) have their own equipment, and for them the only cost is the annual membership fee. We organise all of our paddles using the Spond mobile phone app.

 

The tedious paperwork bit - join us for some try-out paddles

During your attendance at your three try-out paddles, we still need to have full contact details for you, and we do need to manage guest attendance numbers alongside our existing members. (Again, insurance...) Therefore, we do need you to complete the club membership form and to download the Spond app to your phone and use it to mark your attendance. The Spond app is easy to find on the usual phone app stores, or you can find out more at www.spond.com. The app is easy to use, just select (or add) the Deben Canoe Club as your club. You can see all of the coming events and mark your attendance accordingly. After three events, if you decide to continue paddling with us, you will be prompted to pay the annual membership fee. 

Before you join us the first time, we ask that you (1) read the information below, to identify a suitable event given your own paddling experience, (2) read our principles for safe paddling (here), and (3) send us an email introducing yourself to info@debencanoeclub.org.uk at least three days before your first paddle.

We're sorry if this seems a bit of a faff. It's less effort than perhaps it seems at first sight. Paddle sports do have some element of risk attached, and at this club we believe that safety should be paramount. Therefore, we do need to know who is attending our events so that we can manage risk properly, so that everyone can have a great time without any problems.

If you subsequently decide NOT to join our club, we will delete all of your data from our records, and you can delete the Spond app from your phone.

 

The tedious paperwork bit - joining a formal training course

If you would like to start a formal training course, please complete the DCC expression of interest form and we will contact you when courses are announced.

Courses generally start around April and usually run for about six weeks. They are an ideal introduction to our club. If you join a course you automatically have to join the club as a full member. We'll explain the details and process at the time, or see elsewhere on this website.

 

The fun bit - joining us for your first paddle

The sections below should help you choose how and when to join us for your first paddle. 

I am a complete beginner. How should I start kayaking/canoeing?

• we run courses for complete beginners at the start of each season, typically April to June. These are an ideal introduction to the sport and would then allow you to join us on our regular club paddles
• we maintain a list of people who have expressed an interest in courses – please complete this online form: DCC expresion of interest form and we will contact you when courses are announced
• you are welcome to join us at a pool session, which would give you a chance to try out a kayak and to speak to one of our coaches about developing your skills. See the calendar for dates 
• it may also be possible to join us on a Wednesday evening paddle, which run broadly April to September. Please turn up promptly, ready to paddle. However, your participation cannot be guaranteed and would be subject to a conversation with the lead coach on the day, and may not be possible depending on the other circumstances of the paddle (size of the group, experience levels of other paddlers, availability of coaches, the weather and tide, etc.)
• you may join us for up to three sessions (either pool or river) before we would need you to formally join the club (this is for insurance reasons)
• unfortunately, we are not really set-up to offer one-off sessions to complete beginners who are not intending to paddle regularly with us

 
I have limited experience of kayaking, and would like to try more

• we run courses for complete beginners at the start of each season, typically April to June. These would also be ideal for someone with limited experience and no previous formal training. These are an ideal introduction to the sport and would then allow you to join us on our regular club paddles
• we also run courses for intermediate paddlers around the same time. Depending on your current level of experience, these might be more suitable
• you are welcome to join us at a pool session, which would give you a chance to speak to one of our coaches about your current level of skill, and the scope for you to join our regular club paddles on the river
• depending on your level of confidence, you could join us on a Wednesday evening. Please arrive promptly to give you a chance to talk to a coach. They would assess if it is practical for you to join us on the river that evening. This would also depend on demand from members and the available coaching cover that evening, etc.
• you may join us for up to three sessions (pool and river) before we would need you to formally join the club (this is for insurance reasons)

I am interested in learning to use an open canoe, can you help?

• we do occasionally offer training in open canoes, but not regularly
• the club does have open canoes, and these are available for hire by club members who are already confident in their use

 
I know how to kayak (or canoe), and am interested in trying your club

• you are welcome to join us at a pool session, which would give you a chance to speak to one of our coaches to confirm your current skill level
• you are welcome to join us on a Wednesday evening paddle. This is an undemanding paddle aimed at novices and families, and so would be an easy introduction to the club. Please arrive promptly so that you can speak to a coach so that they can confirm that you can join us on the river that evening. This would also depend on demand from members and the available coaching cover that evening
• assuming you and we were happy with your skills on a Wednesday evening, you could then join us on a Thursday evening, which includes a more demanding group
• if you wish to join us October to March, when there are no Wednesday paddles, please join us for a pool session so that you can speak to a coach and confirm your suitability for Thursday paddles
• you may join us for up to three sessions (pool and river) before we would need you to formally join the club (this is for insurance reasons)

 
I don’t have any kit or a boat, can I paddle with your club?

• yes, the club has boats and all the necessary equipment, to hire at each paddle, with a charge of £6 a session (in 2026)

 
If I join the club, may I store my kayak at the centre

• no, the club does not have enough room to store members’ boats
• local boatyards do offer kayak storage, including the Woodbridge Boatyard which is adjacent to the club. We believe the nearby Deben Yacht Club also offers canoe storage. Please contact the boatyards / other clubs directly if you are interested in this

 

What are the age limits for children?

• children up to the age of 11 must be accompanied by a responsible adult, both on the river and at a pool session
• the club does not have any lower age limit – it is up to the accompanying responsible adult to take responsibility. Up to 8 years old children must wear a Buoyancy Aid and be accompanied 1 to 1 by an adult in pool sessions as well as on the river.
• children over the age of 11 may paddle with the club unattended, but a responsible adult must be available if they need to leave the group early. Over the age of 14 the club assumes that the child is responsible enough to arrive and leave on their own.

 
I have a group of (typically, young) people who would like to try kayaking. Can you help?

• sadly, the Deben Canoe Club cannot accomodate groups at this time. Legal and insurance issues make this impractical.

 
Does your club cater for members with inflatable canoes / Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs)/ Sit On Top kayaks (SOTs)

• we do have members with inflatable canoes and whilst they can be impressive craft, the vast majority are much slower than the other boats at the club and so don’t work well in a mixed group. As a result, we generally recommend that you hire our boats rather than paddle an inflatable during club activities
• we have a SUP group in the club and run SUP Beginners Courses every year.
• as with inflatables, many SOT kayaks are very slow compared with the boats that the club paddles, and so don’t work well in a mixed group. However we do have two longer (faster) SOT boats for those who are uncomfortable with a closed cockpit kayak.

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