Wednesday 19th October - Windsurf **** - River Orwell at Levington – sunny periods.

Foil – 20.06 knot max, 18.59 knot ave., 13.76 knot hour (spot PB), 15.99 knot mile, 36.60 km., 16.47 knot alpha (spot PB).  

Starboard Freeride 150 and a Evolution Freeride foil with a Tushingham Storm 5.2m.

With 20/25 knots of wind forecast from the east today I was hoping to sail from The Dip at Felixstowe today and headed down at 10.30 to make the most of the 1 o clock low water. Wave sailor Paul had already rigged 5m and was ready to go but the sea was pretty big as the wind was onshore which did not look very inviting to me despite the sunshine! There was a bit of a shore dump but Paul got away with no problems but I know straight away he was way under powered as he struggled to get going. Sadly, he ended up at the end of the prom with a long walk back with his sail, I did go and retrieve his board for him. He then rigged 6m and headed out again but was still under powered and quickly lost ground downwind, if an experienced wave sailor like Paul was struggling then I was not going to risk it here as I have already had a ride in the lifeboat this month so headed for home. I sorted out a few pics I had taken and was lucky enough to get one on ITV’s About Anglia weather in the evening:) It seemed a shame to waste the wind so I headed over to the River Orwell at Levington leaving Mag to have a blustery bike ride around Felixstowe. Despite being low water at the marina it looked good, sunny and fairly flat and with the wind from the east you could launch by the marina entrance and sail straight out of the channel so I set up my foil board. Sail choice was harder as the trees down past Loompit lake sheltered the launch a fraction but there looked loads of wind on the water so took a chance with 5.2 which proved OK for the session although there were some good gusts! The launch was easy and I was soon up and flying, a few short tacks and I was on the straight leading towards Felixstowe docks which is where I spent most of the session having loads of fun gybing. I turned mostly when the gusts hit and got some good ones, in fact my top ten alphas were all over 15 knots, it is much easier to turn when the wind is up and the small sail is sweet to use:) I was surprised to get several OK mile runs considering most contained 2 or 3 gybes! Then the sun went in and the wind turned a fraction north making it very patchy so it was time to call it a day and landed OK despite the low water, pack up and head for the showers. Its looking wet tomorrow but windy again on Friday:)

PB – just realised I got a couple of spot PB’s today, best alpha and hour, that always nice:)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10224222707568032