Thursday 3rd August – windsurf ***** Southend – sunny periods - wsw 20/30 kts
37.47 kt. max., 35.45 kt. ave., 35 km.
Missed loads of wind yesterday as saving myself for Southend today, I haven’t sailed here since 11/07/2016! With the tide not right until the afternoon I had a leisurely drive down, even missing the turning off the A12!, arriving at the seafront approx.. 12.30. With the tide still high I had a quick look at Thorpe Bay and one windsurfer was out with the tide dropping. As it is the school holiday it was busy near the pier but there was loads of parking at Chalkwell. Ian was just about to walk out having rigged 5.4 on his small board. After putting £6.50 !!!!! in the parking meter I took a chance with my 5.8 and my speedboard, the first time I have used this in two years! Shortie on it was the long walk out, on reaching the creek I sailed towards The Ray and hit 30 knots so it was looking like it could be a good day!
Ian was flying as usual soon getting over 40 kts but as usual I was doing 33 Kts! The fastest section of The Ray was just short of the corner but it was not the flattest, that was around the corner sailing towards the pier but it was too square to go fast but getting back upwind was easy if the wind stayed up, even for me on my small board. It was a little hairy crossing the channel as the waves rolled down! The wind did ease off for a while and I was wishing I took my 80lt out! I stopped for a drink and chocolate bar as the seals keep popping their heads out:)
The wind then increased and the good sailors were getting 44+ kts and even I was beginning to improve, 35 then 36 peaking at 37 kts, done by bearing off into the choppy water down the East course!
There was now lots of sailors out several of which I know:) a good mix of freeride and speedsailors, then a couple of kiters gave it a try!
With the tide turned and my speeds not improving I called it a day at about 6.30 and had the long walk back, arriving knackered as usual! I took a few pics and then packed up and headed home – good 70 mile trip with no hold-ups:)
In the end I got my fastest speeds since 26/05/2015 with this being my 11th fastest ave so not too bad and got on well with the speedboard, my only gripe is the Tushingham X-15 5.8 which sets way too flat, just can’t get any belly in it!
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