Friday 11th September - Windsurf ***** - The Manor at Felixstowe to the Principality of Sealand(Rough Towers) – sunny periods.

Foil – 17.96 knot max, 16.17 knot ave ., 10.95 knot hour, 15.09 knot mile, 48.50 km., 10.95 knot alpha.

Exocet RF 91 AST with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Lightning 6.5m.

Over the years I have had loads of long-distance windsurfing adventures, mostly on my old long raceboard.  These include several round island trips, being the first windsurfer to sail around Tiree a definite highlight! But one trip has eluded me so far, a trip over seven miles out to sea off the coast at Felixstowe to the famous Principality of Sealand better known locally as Rough Towers.  We are all a little nervous of sailing that far from the beach.  With the arrival of the latest thing to hit windsurfing, foiling, where you actually fly a couple of feet above the water, it has opened up a huge area of sailing possibilities due to the foils amazing ability to go easily upwind and down! Friend of many years Andy Mexome was also keen to make the trip after he has been exploring the coast of East Anglia of late so all we had to do was wait for the right conditions. With several foilers meeting up at the best local foiling beach, The Manor at Felixstowe, with the WSW actually stronger than forecast we decided to have a try for the Tower:) Choosing a sail size is a little hit and miss with the wind being a fraction offshore but we both rigged 6.5 which proved ideal. With safety in mind we were sailing as a couple, both with GPS Fastfind rescue devices, an I – phone, a small rucksack of spares, a waterproof camera to record the event and a GPS to log the tracks.  We are also lucky in Felixstowe to have the coast watch in the Martello tower just along from the Manor who are always on the lookout with large binoculars.  So, we didn’t just set off without due care and attention.  We said we would have a few runs to check the conditions were suitable before braving the trip and breaking away from the shore. After a couple of runs out to the Wadgate post, things were pretty much perfect so we continued sailing out to sea. Once the shipping lane was crossed, I eased back just to check Andy was there and saw him a hundred metres upwind, so it was time to continue. With the tower slowly coming closer and closer, I had fun riding down the swell.  If anything, the sea was smoother far out than close to the beach. Nearing the tower Andy gybed and sailed back to me saying that he wanted me to be the first to ever foil to the tower, a much appreciated gesture:) I stopped a 100m from the tower for safety reasons and we were very surprised to see that we had been beaten out there by two sea canoeists, that’s certainly a long way to paddle!  Then Andy surprised me by foiling behind the twin towers and then sailing through the two huge legs!  A feat I captured, slightly blurry on camera:) The fact that he lost the wind midway and ended up in the water takes nothing from the feat! He sailed over to me and said he asked the owner who lives in this remote spot if it was OK and he said it was fine and went to get his camera! Andy then said it was my turn so I gingerly fly over to behind the towers and I thought what the hell, you only live once so went between the legs, I too ended up in the drink and now have the scars to prove I touched the towers as I had to push myself away from the massive leg but it gave me another opportunity to get the camera out:) Now all we had to do was foil the 7 miles back and what fun that was running down the swells in what was now a big sea as the wind increased to 20 knots. Not once did we feel out of control and got back safely to the beach after about an hour and a half on a really big high, another one ticked off the bucket list!!! Then after a snack and drink it was time to head out again to have some fun. The wind was good and the sea was big with loads of yachts heading up the coast. It was just great sneaking up on the yachts and passing them closely astern scaring the life out of the sailors as they just don’t hear you coming, luckily most were pleased to see me as it is not every day, they are over taken by someone flying! With the wind going even further offshore and getting patchy it was time to call time on yet another 5 star foiling session.  I am loving the foil more and more after each session.  Looking good for the weekend as more and more windsurfers succumb to the lure of the foil:)

https://sealandgov.org/

https://www.facebook.com/stephen.squirrell.1/media_set?set=a.10219909841869085&type=3

http://mkwindsurfing.co.uk/booms/

https://www.77sports.co.uk/