Saturday 23rd May - Windsurf **** - Point Clear – sunny periods!
F2 282 Ride with Tushingham Lightning 6.5m and 36 fin.
Fin – 28.49 knot max, 26.46 knot ave., 14.93 knot hour, 23 knot mile, 47.90 km., 17.80 knot alpha
With a westerly wind forecast to gust to over 40 knots there was only one venue today especially as my local spot, Levington is still closed to windsurfers and that is Point Clear over the border in Essex, trouble was every windsurfer and kitesurfer in East Anglia had the same idea:( Mag and I arrived at The Green at around ten with it already filling up mainly with Felixstowe sailors! The tide was still really low so time for a catch up and then we had a great video call from our Grandson Arlo, who we really miss and was on top form:) Then it was time to rig and I wanted an easy sailing day so rigged my 2 cam lightning 6.5 over my X-15,s and planned to start off with my 115 lt. F2 Ride. The sail is defiantly on its last legs, the monofilm has gone well crispy and it is difficult to get the mast to end of the sleeve but I managed in the end! There is another problem here now at PC, loads of sand has been washed away over the winter meaning no beach and a concrete wall at high tide but I would worry about that later! Mag zips me into my new Gull wetsuit which is a little tight and hard to get into but again with my rucksack of spares I am actually first on the water and sail straight into the lagoon. It was a nightmare with weed everywhere meaning you had to clear your fin after nearly every run and there was not really enough water yet and the wind was patchy so I forgot about chasing 30 knots and headed out to sea where I was much happier having it nearly all to myself:) I beat 2 miles out to sea running parallel to the shingle beach during when I had clear view of the Jaywick windfarm. I then usually sail really broad back but the sea was fairly big so I ended up beating 5 miles back ending up the River Colne by Fingringhoe bird hides much earlier than I usually sail up here and it was shallow at the end and lumpy especially passing East Mersea. It was well worth it as I had a huge stretch of water all to myself and had a couple of mega broad reaches including a leg burning 4 mile one back to PC. After an hour and an hour, it was time to head back to she Mag for lunch and the water was now right against the sea wall leaving very little area to land. I found more beach down by the huge shell and had my yummy salad. By this time the car park was parked to the gunnels, even the kite launching area was covered much to the annoyance of the kitesurfers who had difficulty launching and landing their kites! When I got home, I saw on Facebook that several sailors from Grafham which is still closed had a day out by the sea and perhaps they had parked there not knowing the score? Looking into the small lagoon you just couldn’t believe the huge numbers in there, Simon Chippington apparently counted 50 windsurfers and 20 kites making it next to impossible to enjoy sailing in there! After a few sail repairs, time to look for another 6.5 my thinks I decided to have a try in the lagoon despite the vast crowds. The weed had spread out so wasn’t so much of a problem but it is far from relaxing and it is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident here with the kiters doing huge jumps while rarely looking behind them to see if it is clear! So, I head back out to sea for so quieter and much more relaxing runs. With a big dark cloud approaching it was time to land and with the wind turning west I decided to pack up. So, no great speeds just blasting fun especially up the Colne where I look forward to foiling on a little lighter wind day. If this is a sign of things to come with such a large number crammed into a small area my day of coming here might be limited??? With dropping winds tomorrow and then nothing it looks like it might be worth a trip to the Stour tomorrow?
https://www.facebook.com/stephen.squirrell.1/media_set?set=a.10218848818184156&type=3
http://mkwindsurfing.co.uk/booms/
|