Thursday 24th November - Windsurf *** River Orwell at Levington – sunny periods.

Foil – 19.15 knot max, 18.27 knot ave., 10.84 knot hour, 15.54 knot mile, 47.85 km., 15.71 knot alpha.

Starboard Freeride 150 and a Evolution Freeride foil with a Tushingham Thunderbird 6.5.

Was really keen to get out today as have not sailed since 11th November, don’t think I have ever missed so much windy days but it has been cold and very wet so gave them a miss:( Today looked promising with sunshine and a 20 knot southerly forecast so headed over to Levington Marina arriving around 9.30 and was joined by Robert and Ian. It did not look very promising at first and we were not in a hurry as the wind was very light so we set up our foil board, I then put my wetsuit on hoping the wind would arrive, I did not want to rig 7.5 as it was supposed to build. The breeze started to fill in so I took a chance with my favourite 6.5, Robert rigged the same and Ian went for 5.6 which turned out OK for today’s session. There was loads of water when I set off and headed up river first but with the wind from the south you soon ran out of breeze so turned and headed back to the corner where there was more. The first hour was patchy for me with my sail being too sail, the two lighter sailors were going well, with the winds patchy and the runs short I was struggling to get upwind, in the end the wind picked up and instead of gybing I tacked and made it to Felixstowe docks, stopping to take a couple of pics. The wind had picked up to 20 knots now and with the tide now going out the river had chopped up which made for an interesting run back but good fun doing loads of short runs only going in once when I had to stop for a coaster to pass heading to Ipswich! I then had some fun on the corner in flatter water getting a good run of 14/15 knot gybes :) I did have a couple of good dips in the water, first when I hit a large clump of weed and second when I was hit by a big gust which lifted me out of the water! I had my neoprene hat with my helmet on for the first time this winter but didn’t quite need gloves today! Getting really knackered after over 2.50 hours on the water it was time to call it a day. Mag had arrived on her bike with lunch, she is a star but hates riding on the road and had two close calls with motorists who for some reason just can’t see bikes when they are driving:( I use Mags bike to head to the showers to warm up before returning for a yummy lunch with Mag as the wind really picks up!

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