Monday 14th February - Windsurf ***** River Orwell at Levington – sunny.

Foil – 18.51 knot max, 17.14 knot ave., 11.11 knot hour, 14.77 knot mile, 26.74 km., 13.52 knot alpha.

Exocet RF AST 91 with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Vulcan 6m.

For the third day in a row Robert and I head over to Levington Marina arriving at 9.30 to a good breeze and sunshine. With high water at 10.30 there was loads of water as we set up our foil boards and then we had the usual decision what sail, there was some good gusts but it was only reading around 20 knots on my gauge so I took a chance with 6m and for once it proved pretty spot on for most of the session, makes a change for me to pick the right sail! Lighter Robert rigged 4.5 which looked fine out on the water but he said he was a fraction under. With the wind WSW not ideal for sailing down to the docks or up to Pin Mill but we had great fun sailing diagonally across the corner in front of the marina in sunshine. I was first out and sailed out and soon reached the wind line and was flying through towards the Docks but stupidly due to a lack of concentration I breached and went in on my very first run so getting wet straight away which meant chilly hands for the session! The river was nice and flat down past the corner but the wind did ease the further you sailed but it is amazing how you can keep flying despite only using a fairly small rig! Had some cracking runs before the wind went light for a bit but after a little slogging it returned with the 6m perfect once again. I did beat up towards Pin Mill and had a really good long run back and then it turned into a gybe feast in front of the marina, which is coming along nicely now for both of us, I am getting more confident flipping the rig and am in no hurry to change my feet, what great fun foil gybing is and it doesn’t matter if you touch down when breezy as you can soon get flying again! Having sailed nearly 30 miles it was time to end a great session and head in. Had a nice chat with Jamie, spotted a kingfisher, before heading to the shower.

The wind continues for days and days with two named Storms approaching, Dudley from Wednesday and Eunice from Friday but with winds forecast to gust in excess of 70 knots I might have to have a few days off! Tomorrow is looking wet but might be sailable if the rain avoids us and I can do Wednesday morning which is supposed to be very mild but I have a physiotherapy appointment for my foot at 1 so can do the morning.

So, a top three days foiling and a picture in the local paper today I am loving life:)

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