Monday 29th March - Windsurf *** - River Orwell at Levington Marina – sunny and mild.

Foil – 20.80 knot max, 19.27 knot ave.,(spot PB) 9.87 knot hour, 17.40 knot mile, 47.92 km.,11.96 knot alpha.

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

Early prom walk **** Felixstowe – brief sunrise then cloudy.

Woke early enough for Mag and I to have a sunrise stroll along the prom here in Felixstowe. We were down on the beach around 6.30, sadly it was pretty cloudy and we only got a brief glimpse of the sun but there is a run of really low tides this week. So, we walked down to the waters edge to stroll amongst the rocks but sadly no sign of any wild life, not one starfish was seen. We then headed up through the Spa gardens and back along the clifftop. Home for a read and short out my pics trying to organise todays windsurfing venue?

Windsurf.

So Big Monday begins, with lockdown easing sailors who lived too far from the coast to get out were getting excited with a few going to our local reservoir including Chris Stephens for his first outing on his foil. Several were keen to get back to Levington Marina, open today for the first time for weeks but I knew there would be a problem parking as they are still dredging that end of the marina and repairing the walkways. I arrived first just after ten and had a word with the workmen who said that end would be closed for another week but we were welcome to sail from the other end. We always used to sail that end but you are more limited to when you can sail as it is shallow that end. I waited by the entrance until Andy and Michael arrived telling them the score. We then went to check the other end, I opened the fence and we parked fairly close to the water, then messaged Ian, Robert and Al telling them the score. We now had wall to wall sunshine and at least 16 degrees and although the tide was still fairly low by the time, we had set up our foils and sails there was enough water without having to wade out too far. It did not look overly windy so choosing a sail was the next problem, you never get the sail right here for all of the session because of the gusty nature of the venue but we rigged between 6.5 and 7.3 with me going for my favourite 7m Lightning. At this point the wind was probably WSW and the session started well with some nice runs across the corner but you run out of wind towards Lavington Creek and Felixstowe docks! I did manage to get all the way to the docks, landing to take some pics of the big dredger working avoiding a coaster heading to Ipswich. The wind then went very patchy as I struggled back and then had a very frustrating hour only going in patches with the foil not feeling right at all, a few times I had to stop to see if I had weed on my foil, perhaps the tide had turned by this stage and was affecting the foil, who knows??? It was very light and my hands did not like vigorous pumping which I try to avoid and at this point I could have done with my 8.5! I am not keen on marginal foiling and am much happier in more wind although the lightweight and Andy M were flying much of the time. It was not a good day for me to practice my gybing as I keep sailing out of the wind but I am not overly bothered about cracking that technique, hopefully it will come as it warms up. I was even thinking of calling it a day, shame really as it was a stunning day, warm with not a cloud in the sky with loads of geese and waders flying overhead but then things really improved with the tide definitely now going out as the breeze filled in to 20 knots + maybe now a true SW as you could beat towards Pin Mill and broad reach back. It is fantastic flying along close to the shore with trees on the cliff, dead trees on the beach and a deep blue sky and in the end I had it all to myself as one by one everyone else packed up:( I was trying for some fast miles and trying to break 20 knots, not a bad speed for my Slingshot 76 foil and was pleased to break it three times and got a spot PB average too:) I did end up as usual in the water a couple of times pushing too much but it is great fun:) I am on the lookout for a Slingshot 65 wing to hopefully gain a few knots of speed! In the end I was out well over three hours and was knackered this being my third session in as many days so called it a day while there was still enough water to land. Ian was there only one left now so he could undo my wetsuit for me. Packing up I then headed to the 5-star shower, I forgot how good that is! So, a good start to the session, a dodgy middle and then an outstanding end so 4 stars for me today:)

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