Tuesday 18th August - Windsurf ***** - The Manor, Felixstgowe – sunny periods.
Exocet RF 91 AST with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Lightning 6.5m.
Foil – 16.75 knot max, 15.64 knot ave., 9.47 knot hour, 13.15 knot mile, 44.47 km., 11.11 knot alpha.
After another great night away in our little campervan all by ourselves by the lovely Ramsholt church with views down to the River Deben. We had two fantastic walks to see the group of Spoonbills that have taken up residence in a large lagoon we had the pleasure of seeing an adult feeding its youngster and what amazing bills they have:) As we were about early we were home in Felixstowe by 11.45 which gave me plenty of time to do my exercises in the sunny back garden before heading down to The Manor after lunch. They was a big air sea rescue operation in progress by the pier, two life boats and helicopters searching for two missing swimmers with a large crowd watching the action, luckily they were eventually found some miles away at Bawdsey:) Andrew Twinn was rigging 7.3 for a fin board as I arrived at The Manor car park and was lucky enough to find a parking spot:) Foiling partner Andy Mexome soon turned up and we decided what sail to use, I went for my ropey old Tushingham Lightning while Andy rigged his 6.2. Andy was first foiler out and was soon up and flying, I was slightly delayed as I had to tape six holes in the worn out monofilm, I love this sail but it is now on its last legs and do like the look of the Duotone E Pace, I will buy a lottery ticket tomorrow:) Andy had disappeared up the coast on an 11 mile run to Shingle Street but I stopped at Bawdsey after just over three miles as the wind was picking up and the sea was big and my 6m would have been better. I am definitely improving flying in big seas, I still find downwind easier but am getting better sailing upwind:) I got back to The Manor Martello in one tack and then had some good runs out to Wadgate, nothing fast as the sea was too big but great fun playing with the swells:) A quick shower eased the wind but it was soon back as was the sunshine. Getting pretty knackered I decided to come ashore for a rest and several were out enjoying the conditions. I had a chat with Swainy down watching as Andy went out again and gave everyone a lesson in foiling flying gybes making it look so easy! With the sun out it was too good an opportunity to miss so I headed out again to try some gybes and it is defiantly not as easy as Andy makes it look but I will not give up and concentrate the next time I an am on the Stour or Orwell! It was surprising windy, probably 20 knots but you could have fun in the waves by not sheeting in but the sea was big and you had to concentrate coming back in to keep the foil in the water! So another 5 star foiling session with loads of wind coming over the next few days but might give tomorrow a miss if the rain comes and I am going to visit my Dad in hospital!
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