Tuesday 19th August  – Windsurf **** The Dip at Felixstowe –  sunny.

Foil – 19.77  knot max, 19.00 knot ave., 14.77  knot hour, 17.47 knot mile, 47.91 km., 14.58 knot alpha.

Starboard Freeride WS 150 and a Evolution Freeride foil with a Naish Nalu 4.75.

Fin – 24.43  knot max (year PB), 21.59 knot ave (year PB)., 3.75  knot hour, 16.52 knot mile, 15.66 km., 10.97 knot alpha.

F2 282 Ride with Tushingham Storm 6.5m and 36 fin

Foil.

After a 7 day visit from our Grandson with his Mum and Dad of course as they now life in Devon, sadly he was was under the weather for a couple of days but we still had some great times especially when out Granddaughter Maeva came round, so lovely to have both our Grandchildren together! I did miss a few windsurfing sessions but didn’t mind at all but with a great forecast I was keen to got back on the water today! With a solid 20 knot North Easterly and sunshine forcast and low water just before 3 a few of us were meeting up at The Dip at 10.30 which gave me enough time to do my exercises in the back garden! Wingers Ian and Micheal were already there just about to head out with 4m wings, it was windy enough to fin but with my heel still playing me up and a swollen finger I thought foiling was the best option so I quickly set up my foil board and after getting a gust of 24 mph I rigged my 4.75 which proved pretty much perfect for the two hour session! I just love small sail foiling as the rig is so light and asy to turn especially out to sea where the waves were fairly big! I did my usual long runs of nearly two miles being joined by Paul on his fin board and a 6m sail, I was pleased I was foiling as it is much easier on the body and fin sailing is much harder and tiring! You could gybe in fairly smooth water close to the beach where the wind eased a little and you had to pick your spot on the outside, it was fun sailing broad and I got some OK speeds considering the state of the sea with a good mile! Our son who was back in Devon said it had rained but here in Suffolk we had a lovely sunny day which made for a great session.

Fin – my first fin sail since 31st August 2024, nearly a year!

After a full-on two hour foil I headed ashore with the the plan of packing up and heading for home but a few had arrived to fin, Ian after winging for 20 miles was rigging to fin so after a quick snack I decided to set-up my fin gear and see if I could remember now to do it as its been a year! I rigged 6.5 which to be honest was a fraction under, it was not helped by the fact that the the tide had turned, now wind with tide which meant beating both ways to stay in the same place! I forgot how hard fin sailing is, I am now used  an easy to sail 150 litre board and the 115 litre board is much harder to sail! I was pleased to stay on a couple of gybes and it wa snice to go a little faster but you couldn’t bear off as you last too much downwind:( I quickly came ashore for a chat on the beach but did have a few more runs getting over 24 knots, my Tushingham Storm 6.5 is now on its ast legs and I will have to get my new set of Tushingham Bolts out of the back of the garage! So a top day with a few year PB’s including sailing a fraction off 40 miles in the sunshine and might have to do it all again tomorrow but might stick to foiling?

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