Thursday 6th October - Windsurf ***** - The Manor at Felixstowe – sunny and warm.

Birthday Foil – 20.16 knot max, (spot PB) 18.99 knot ave., (spot PB) 14.9 knot hour, 17.76 knot mile, 56.89 km., 15.17 knot alpha. (Spot PB)

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

After giving yesterdays windy day a miss, having a blood shoot eye as a result of slightly high blood pressure but today was too good an opportunity to miss especially as it is my 69th Birthday – where did all whose years go? The day started well with a lovely card from the Grandson Arlo, got the wordle in 3 and even did my exercises in the sunny, warm back garden:) This gave time  for the tide to drop and I headed down to The Manor end of Felixstowe arriving around midday taking Mag with me so she could have her daily walk after first taking a selfie on the beach in wall to wall sunshine and 18 degrees with a good cross off WSW breeze, just perfect:) With the flood gate shut I had to climb over which is not a problem and I meet a couple of old friends for a chat who I haven’t seen in ages including ex Felixstowe wave sailed Phil Brown who moved to Cornwall several years ago::) Sail choice was a bit of guess work with the wind off but I went for my favourite 6.5 which proved OK although I could have used something smaller with the wind gusting to 20 knots and the sea becoming petty big at times! As I was flying pretty much straight off the beach and more consistent than my last session here, I decided to do several long runs out to Wadegate post for an hour. Being pretty lumpy it was challenging but I got loads of uns over 16 knots with my sea gybing coming along, getting a spot PB alpha, plus a PB average (my best open sea and 7th best ever) and a PB max. speed, it is always nice to get over 20 knots especially as I am using large foil wings! After being out for around an hour 4 more sailors came out launching from a little further down the coast. With my first hour done I went for a long broad downwind run, exciting in the big waves with a cool beat back:) I was tempted to switch to my fin but decided to stick to the foil and was glad I did, foiling does not get much better. After two and a half hours it was time to call it a day, head for home, shower and enjoy a piece of yummy birthday cake made by Mag :) Another windy day tomorrow, hope to get out on the fin for a change?

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