Level: 0.8 m, dropping to 0.74 m.

Weather: 6 - 8 °C, amber wind warning (gusting 69 mph).

Group: Me, Amy J., Ayla, Dan, Jackson, Amelie, Barnie ... Ed, Josh, Maddy, and more!

Vibes

A bit of a carnage day, but not necessarily due to the levels. A couple injury walk-offs led to significant group changes. The level itself was actually very nice to paddle. Paddling in such wind should probably be reconsidered.

Features

1. Washing Machine - Really clear wave on the left line, some hole on the right, but no a huge drop.
2. Lovers' Leap - Bit washed out, but the rocks could still cause issues! We put a line halfway and were grateful for it. Eddying across at the bottom was difficult, so try and get freshers to eddy on the right if possible. We paddled the left-ish line and it seemed ok.
3. Triple Step - Step 1 looked meaty, but had a good sneak on the far right. Step 2 was washed out and step 3 was a bit of a hole garden, but in the bouncy fun sort of way!
4. Spindryer - Not raftable, bit scrapey at the end, where rocks can cause flips, not a nice place to be boat chasing.

Event Account

My group had a fair few swims early on, until one paddler hit their head above the seal launch and was displaying concussion symptoms. They were walked off with someone else and we waited for the next group (who were not far behind) to: (a) pair one of our drivers with one of their stronger paddlers to go down to the bottom for the minibus and (b) then merge for ratio.

When the next two groups arrived piecemeal due to their own swim issues. I merged with one of these groups, and initially towed our two spare boats.

At lovers' leap we ran into another group with a suspected concussion. This led to more walking off, and so groups were further consolidated. The remaining paddlers then proceeded very cautiously, portaging triple step.

After spindryer, we saw a pile of club boats and two members on the bank. They'd got out there due to having seen a, now removed, tree across the road and told us to go down to Holne Weir. Freshers and inters were taken by minibus to River Dart Country Park and some paddlers went off to paddle the boats left at the bottom of Lovers' down to the bottom. This was a bit of a long day.

Other Notes

Amber weather warning for wind led to a tree coming down on the road - this was cleared before the end of the day, but worth thinking about. This could've easily been more problematic.

Time: < 3 hours

Level: 0.55 - 0.53 m

Weather: 4 - 6 °C, bit windy, sunny.

Group: Me, Amy J., Ayla, Dan H., Jackson, Amelie

Vibes

Great development level with a few rocks, but never really unpleasantly empty nor boney.

Features

1. Washing Machine - Boof line was actually pleasant and low consequence. Left line was clear.
2. Lovers' Leap - Only pleasant route was the right line, which actually ran fairly cleanly and didn't throw you too much into the side. A throwline at halfway/above bottom is nice. Final bimble required hard right.
3. Triple Step - Triple 1 required finding the tongue, but was fine. Triple 2 and 3 ran cleanly with few surprises.
4. Spindryer - Happily rafted and the eddy was flushy.

Other Notes

I used this day to allow backers to gain leading experience and to get intermediates to be involved in rescues where sensible. This level, and only have one beginner, enabled this.

Group: Me, Ayla, Aodhan, Ruby, Amelie, Bread

Vibes

I have never had such a perfect day of paddling with the club. Flawless lines all round. Very nice level on all features.

Features

1. Washing machine - Left line running. Boof line approach pushed you left and into the middle.
2. Lovers' leap - A lovely level, the right line ran like a dream and the end bimble was navigable on river left.
3. Triple step - Triple 1 had a clear wave between the two rocks, more on the left. Triple 2 & 3 wer a case of just meandering with the flow.
4. Spin dryer - Raftable and of little consequence.

Other Notes

A brilliant day, clean lines were hit all round. A genuinley lovely level for fresher paddling, bar a lack of many good surfing waves.

Weather: 11-12°C and cloudy

Group: Me, Andy L., Ed G., Abi, Maddy, Miguel, and Rowan.

Vibes

Good beginner level, the bimbles weren't too scrapey and boat chases weren't too punishing. I would paddle again! Nice temperature for it.

Features

1. Washing machine - The boof line was slightly more central.
2. Lovers' leap - Rocks in the middle, go either side.
3. Triple step - Triple 2 was just a channel and 3's hole was ok, but easily avoidable by going slightly left.
4. Spin dryer - Raftable, a bit of a non-event.

Other Notes

5 swims total at bimble, lovers' eddy, triple 1, triple 1 eddy, and triple 3. All of these swims were easily resolved. Rowan's boat nearly went down triple 2, but Maddy grabbed it (woo). Bridge jump was still fine and still a bit stupid.

Level: Started at 0.47 m, but dropped to 0.45 m.

Weather: 11-12°C and cloudy

Group: Me, Eric, Ed G., Abi, Maddy, Miguel, Rowan, and (for parts) Amy J.

Vibes

Still a decent beginner level, but noticeably more boney than even 0.5 m - with this same group having more swims on this level on bimble than the day before on 0.5 m, particularly after lovers' leap. Consider taking a good break at lovers leap and/or triple step depending on the group.

Features

1. Washing machine - A rock became apparent on the left, and the boof line was slightly more central. For the left line, make sure you don't go too far left of you'll clip this rock, which is fine for a leader, but not if you're leading a beginner!
2. Lovers' leap - 2-3 central rocks more in play, with the left line looking nicer. The eddy halfway down was available for setting up a throwline.
3. Triple step - Triple 1's safe line was clearly visible. Triple 2 was just a channel and 3 was a case of skirting slightly to the left to avoid the hole.
4. Spin dryer - Raftable, non-event.

Other Notes

More swims at this level than 0.5 m, particularly on the post-lovers' bimble - partly due to tierdness, partly due to rocks. We did see a pin on of these bimble rocks, so be careful with less confident paddles. However, these were easy leading conditions, with large eddies and slow moving water. Having a throwline on lovers' proved useful.

Time: 4hr30

Weather: Up to 16 °C and sunny - very nice!

Group: Me, Amy J, Ted, Emma, Ale, Alex

Vibes

A pretty perfect beginner level, apart from some scrapey bimbles. One person unfortunatley dislocated their shoulder (this is reflected in timings).

Features

1. Washing Machine - Left line ran nicely at this level, but the hero line looked too boney and not really boofable.
2. Lovers' Leap - Central rocks covered at this level, making a leftish-middle line the path of least resistance, but the left was still boney.
3. Triple Step - Triple 1 was the munchiest part, go closer to the right of the middle wave. One person dislocated their shoulder here. Triple 2 and 3 were reasonably clean apart from an annoying rock just before the hole at the end. Eddies were easy before, during and after.
4. Spindryer - Non-event at this level, carnage raft went down without an issue.

Other Notes

The group(s) were reconfigured after triple, allowing the injured paddler to be walked off to the road fairly easily at Holne Chase Hotel. It is worth noting that the individual was more prone to a dislocation and I wouldn't expect such an injury here otherwise.

Level: 0.404 (at 11:00)

Weather: Up to 16 °C, sunny

Group: Me, Amy J., Emma, Ale, Alex

Vibes

A typical scrapey Dart. Features all ran pleasantly, but Lovers' Leap became far more boney. Good level for boosting confidence if the group can withstand the scrapey bimbles.

Features

1. Washing Machine - Left line was ok, but avoid the rocks on the far left. Boof line was more central than it was right.
2. Lovers' Leap - Only the right line was really suitable for beginners, with the left line closing a third of the way down. The eddy before the final turn was huge and very easily made.
3. Triple Step - The first step was the most challenging, I dropped down to guide people to the nicest spot between the two rocks and this felt helpful. We eddied between two and three with beginners choosing their own lines well.
4. Spindryer - A non-event at this level, raftable.

Other Notes

I led one of the beginners down the left line on lovers', they got spun backwards near the end and swam - very avoidable if I'd chosen a better line.