Saturday 2nd September - Windsurf **** The Dip at Felixstowe – sunny periods.

Foil – 17.46 knot max, 16.68 knot ave, 11.94 knot hour, 15.86 knot mile, 45.96 km., 11.63 knot alpha.

Starboard Freeride 150 and a Evolution Freeride foil with a Sailworks Retro 7.5.

A real bonus session today as I wasn’t expecting any wind but after doing our daily word games, I checked the forecast and was surprised to see 15 knots form the east, sunny periods too:) Not keen on travelling these days so was keen to sail at The Dip but with high water around 2 I needed to get down to the beach fairly early as we have lost a lot of shingle from that area making launching and landing difficult. So, after a quick breakfast I hitched the trailer and headed down dropping Mag off at Jacobs Ladder for her daily walk arriving at The Dip at 10. It was sunny, plenty of beach and around 12 knots of breeze from the east, so the foil board was quickly set up and on the beach and I had no choice to rig my big sail, the Retro 7.5, I am not keen on heavy rigs but to be fair it proved absolutely perfect for this two and a half hour session:) The session stated off really well, quicky flying off the beach but the wind eased back and I had half an hour floundering about but luckily the wind returned and I had a cracking couple of hours doing long mile and a half runs out to sea. Sadly, it was wind with tide so I didn’t fancy sailing away from The Dip today especially as you had to pump up on the foil at the start of several runs! I was joined on the water later by fellow foiler Paul and Swainy came down to wing but did not go our while I was there as he had to wait until the tide had turned and started to drop to expose some beach! I had some fun buzzing yachts, there were several out sailing today, it was quite lumpy but by sailing broad you could smooth if out and foiling is so much better on your knees:) With high water approaching I had one last long run getting my fastest mile before returning to land on a small area of shingle by the corner of a groyne, if I left it much better, I would have had real trouble landing! I packed up and only had two miles to drive home and was pleasantly surprised to find Maeva, the lovely Granddaughter round for a visit, she is a star:) We have a hot sunny week ahead with maybe another easterly day on Tuesday, fingers crossed.

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