Saturday 21st November - Windsurf **** - River Orwell at Levington Marina – cloudy.

Fin – 26.70 knot max, 22.83 knot ave ., 8.54 knot hour, 17.48 knot mile , 25.33 km ., 15.91 knot alpha.

F2 Zantos 295 with 36 fin and Tushingham Lightning 7m.

Foil – 17.05 knot max, 15.67 knot ave ., 9.98 knot hour , 15.43 knot mile , 26.00 km .,11.89  knot alpha.

Exocet RF AST 91 with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Lightning 7m.

After yesterday’s cold weather I was pleased to see the return of slightly milder weather today and was keen to get out on the water again. With the wind W to WSW and gusting in excess of 25 knots I was not keen to go out on the open sea now it is getting colder so decided to head over to my go to winter venue, Levington Marina. With low water around 9.30 it gave me time to do my exercises before heading over to the Orwell to sail the tide in, many people miss out on some of the best conditions here by coming too late when there is more water, which means more chop! With the wind in this direction it is easy to sail out of the marina entrance channel and there is always plenty of water in the middle but with winds gusting over 25 knots I decided to start with my fin board for a change and rigged 7m for the 133 lt. Zantos. I had the river all to myself apart from flocks of birds passing over as I sailed over into Levington Bay. I sent an hour or so mainly in that corner but the wind was very up and down although I got the odd good bursts, just not consistently windy enough for the fin so I beat back as three other windsurfers arrived all keen on finning although I said it would be better on the foil. With loads of water now in the river I quickly set up the foil, using my now favourite foiling sail the Tushingham Lightning 7m. It was much better out on the foil and I was soon flying all the way to the docks the 7m handling the big gust easily while the fin sailors headed up river where the was water was very choppy:( So I had the best part of the session on the foil in super flat water towards the dock and playing with the swell up on the corner, what fun as sadly the fin sailors were packing up as the wind dropped, apart from Robert who was keen to give his 100 lt. fin board a try on the river! I am getting better on keeping the board flying through the lulls but as the wind eased it was time to head back, pack up, shower and head for home as it was getting dark:(

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