Saturday 12th - Windsurf **** River Orwell at Levington – sunny.

Foil – 18.21 knot max, 17.49 knot ave ., 8.05 knot hour, 14.23 knot mile , 39.27 km ., 14.87 knot alpha.

Exocet RF AST 91 with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Thunderbird 6.5m.

With a foiling breeze from the south forecast and sunny I once again headed over to Levington despite it being low water at 12.43. I arrived at the marina at 10.45 and the Orwell was pretty low and to be honest the wind looked marginal at best but it was a nice day so I set up my foil by which time there were a few gusts so took a chance with my 6.5 which proved OK, a bit of slogging but nicely powered when the gusts came through! Launched at 11.20 taking 15 tacks to make it to deep water which is no problem and once out you had loads of river to sail, not touching the bottom once. With the wind from the south it was a little up and down, nothing new for river sailing so I mainly sailed in front of the marina with again lots of gybes which is great fun especially when you get a good flying one:) I did try beating down river but the wind was not really strong enough, I also tried heading upriver but you ran out of wind that way too so just enjoyed the flatwater and sunshine for over two hours:) The rive was still low when I landed but I sailed straight up the marina channel and easily landed by the entrance, pack up, shower and home checking out the seafront as well but the wind looked pretty light there. When I got home, I had lost one of my Mystic palmless gloves as I had stupidly put them on my trailer to dry, I was amazed to still have one hanging on. Still, they were full of holes so have ordered a new pair!

We are actually going out this evening to visit friends for a Chinese most unusual for us as we usually put our pyjamas and sit by the open fire!

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