I hummed and hared about today but I woke up and checked the forecast and the wsw to w wind building during the day and low water at 2.47 so no need for an early start :) So I could do my exercises, have breakfast, pack a picnic and head off to Southend at about 10. I got there way too early as the tide was still high and loads of windsurfers were out at Thorpe Bay on small boards and 5.3 sails even though it didn’t look that windy! It was a bit up and down but I sat and watched for awhile, took a few pics , returned to the van as I had found somewhere free to park had my sandwich and read my book. I then had a ride to Chalkwell as the tide was dropping, with only 20 mph on the gauge I rigged 6.4 – I only took 2 sails and my 80 lt. but then the wind really built gusting to 30mph so I changed to my 5.8 even though the top panel is shot to pieces and covered in tape – I need another x-15 5.8 or have this one repaired? I then tried all four parking ticket machines and none of them would take my card :( I have had this trouble here before! Lucky for me I found a couple who could change a fiver so was able to put £4 in and start the long walk out!  With the wind in the west I had to sail on the course toward the pier but it was very broad making it bumpy and the wind was up and down and never really strong enough – should have gone with the 6.4! I had The Ray all to myself apart from three seals including a youngster :) It was fun heading across the bumpy channel and bearing off close to the sand bank hoping to get a gust! I managed a couple of good gusts and managed nearly 36 kts – not bad for me in the conditions even if getting back upwind was a bit of a faff! As the wind was going lighter and lighter I decided to call it a day as three kiters turned up! It was difficult to beat back with 5.8 in the light winds so when I reached another path back across the mud which I took. It’s a knackering walk back to the prom where I de-rigged and then had to walk half a mile along the prom to the van, I picked my board up on the way out of Southend. I had a good trip back to Felixstowe and Mag had a nice tea waiting – the only bad news was our 10 year old dishwasher died – there is always something to spend your money on !