Sunday 11th November – windsurf ** Point Clear– sunny, cloudy, showery with rainbow!

F2 Ride 282 with Tushingham X-15 6.4 and Lightning 7.0 with 30 and 36 fins.

26.20 knot max., 24.13 knot ave ., 10.05 knot hour, 16.91  knot mile, 25.20 km., 17.90 knot alpha.

Again, let down by the weather forecasters and a day that promised so much failed to deliver yet again:( Point Clear is one of my favourite local spots but this is my 8th visit this year and I have only had one good session! The wind just seems to by-pass this corner of Essex although to be fair the wind was very up and down on all the local venues! It was supposed to be SW 24 mph wind gradually dropping during the day with wall to wall sunshine after the early rains had cleared. Things started so well, the heavy rain stopped as we left Felixstowe, arriving at PC at 10.30 a fraction late as there was loads of water and I find it best to get out early for the flattest water in the lagoon. With wind gusting 10/27 mph on the beach I thought it was too windy for 7m so made the mistake of rigging 6.4 for the 282 with a 30 cm fin, I definitely had the need for speed!!! While changing into my wet suit in the van the 2-minute silence for Remembrance Day came on the radio so we had a quiet moment. With several sailors arriving from all over Suffolk with most going for 6 to 6.5 but I know I had made a mistake as soon as I left the beach and for the most was way underpowered. It took a couple of runs to make it into the lagoon and it was a long slow beat to the far end but then I had the best half an hour of the day in flat water and sunshine, sadly not fast but so nice gybing at both ends:) Then with the wind falling I tried out to sea in hope of stronger wind, planed for a bit and then it dropped as it clouded over. I wobbled ashore as the wind went light and it rained, time for hot soup and a warm in the van with Mag who was having a nice time knitting a Nativity and going for a walk on the beach collecting driftwood and pebbles:) The rainbow came and went with the sun reappearing and the wind returning so I rigged my 7m Lightning and put a bigger fin and headed back out. I was quite breezy for a few runs but with the tide high the water had chopped up :( I then sailed through the gap in the shingle bar and out to sea again. I sailed towards Brightlingsea but came to an abrupt stop when I hit something underwater and went off the front! I just couldn’t see what??? Perhaps with the high tide a bouy was actually under water and I caught the rope but who knows. I then started beating out to sea but with the wind getting lighter and lighter I came ashore on the open sea side at the end of the lagoon. I had my small waterproof camera so stopped to take some pics. Then with the wind now very light I had a slow sail back to the beach but it was OK as the water was now super flat. At least I didn’t have to walk as far as poor Keith Farmer who was also caught out at the bottom of the lagoon:( With everyone now packing up with several having a less than average day including local Bruce Costell who rigged two sails/boards put his wetsuit on but failed to make it out:( With the diesel heater now on full we were toasty in the van eating home made fruit cake with a cuppa. Then all I had to do was de-rig two sails and head for home hoping I get another try this year to have a good session at Point Clear!!!!

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