Wednesday 11th November - Windsurf **** - The Manor at Felixstowe – cloudy and mild.

Foil – 16.32 knot max, 14.38 knot ave ., 8.79 knot hour, 14.02 knot mile , 26.31 km ., 9.92 knot alpha.

Exocet RF AST 91 with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Lightning 7.8m.

After a run of lovely sunny, mild and still days great for cycling and walking, it looked like we had a chance to get out on the water again today. With the southerly wind supposed to mild during the day I was in no hurry so could do my exercises after breakfast. A few messaged to say they were going to The Manor for one so with the breeze building I put my wetsuit on at home, hitched the trailer and headed down just after midday hoping to park on the road leading to our car park as it is sadly now pay:( Michael G was already there setting up his foil and was about to rig 6.5, I managed to squeeze in on the road but my trailer was probably still in the car park! I took my board, foil with two sails to the beach, a 7 and 7.8. Michael was first out and was up and flying but it took him awhile to get going so I rigged my 7.8. I didn’t want to rig that big as I have been trouble with my left hand perhaps caused by too much windsurfing last month or maybe getting on a little!!!! I set off into the cloudy gloom but can’t complain as it was very mild and with a dodgy hand my pumping is slightly curtailed but I was soon up and flying with the sail absolutely perfect. I then went broad for nearly 4 miles down past The Dip where several kitersurfers were out. I didn’t want to push anything today so enjoyed the mellow ride downwind playing with the swell which got bigger the further I went up the coast! I tacked and the wind was a little light and took a while to get going but it filled in and I was flying nicely upwind doing OK at keeping the board clear of the big sea. I then hit a lobster pot line close to the shore at The Fludgers and that seemed to throw things off. The foil did not feel right for a bit like the bolts had come loose, and it kept spinning out? I talked to Andy M after the session and he had some problems too which he cured by moving the mast back, small adjustments can make a huge difference when foiling! The wind was building and I wished I had my 7m but made it back with no problems. I then had a couple of nice runs out towards Wadgate before calling it a day, I would have sailed longer with a smaller sail but it was still a nice session with more wind coming over the next few days:)

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