Saturday 6^th June – windsurf ***** - La Franqui – sunny and very hot – wnw 20/30

Fanatic 80 and 6.4 – Xantos 133 and 7m – 28 and 34cm fins – max 36.46 kts, ave 34.57 kts, n/mile 32.53kts (7 miles over 30 kts ) 50 n/mile sailed, alpha 21.57 kts

We have stayed down here in the Gruissan/La Franqui area longer than expected enjoying the bikes and the lovely scenery :) Earlier in the week the forecast was looking good for windsurfing on Sun/Mon but that disappeared and we were left with a few hours wind this morning! So we got up early at 6 ish from our newly found lovely overnight spot just outside Les Cabanes near Sigean right by the Etang:) On the journey to Sigean we spotted a 100 Flamingos’ feeding in a small Etang – the first we have seen this holiday, also another first a small Squacco Heron :) I was the first windsurfer to arrive on the beach, passing a 4x4 still stuck in the sand from yesterday – what a plonker !!! As usual the forecast 15/20 wnw was 25/30 so while Mag made a cuppa I rigged 6.4 and set up the 80 and was on the water at 7:45 and had it all to myself for a couple of hours !!! :) and what a great time I had – not fast but great fun even if a bit gusty. I did loads of mile runs and did 7 over 30kts and even sailed up towards Port la Noueille only turning when the wind went light. I was getting hungry by now so went and joined Mag for breakfast at 10, she had been enjoying watching the kite buggies, land yachts and foil kite boards while doing her exercises and then knitting :) As the wind had dropped by now I decided to take to Xantos 133 out with the 6.4 and try for some alpha’s and got some cracking gybes in but again was a bit disappointed by only getting 21.57 kts with a entry speed of 28 kts !!! must try harder :) With the wind going even lighter I rigged the 7m and had some fun with Mag taking some pics on the shore! The wind was getting lighter and lighter but I struggled on until I got to 50 n/mile on the gps before packing up. After a delicious salad lunch I re-rigged and tied all the kit on the van and then we took our towels and books the water edge for a relax and a swim – my 6^th swim this month and great it is too but with the wind now all but gone it was way too hot so after a quick trip to Lidl we headed to our shady spot near Bages and had a great end to the day under some trees with a light cooling breeze ending in a top sunset :)

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