Sunday 6th - Windsurf **** River Stour at Bradfield – sunny periods.

Foil – 19.46 knot max, 17.78 knot ave ., 12.23 knot hour (spot and year PB), 16.34 knot mile , 46.33 km ., 14.76 knot alpha (spot and year PB).

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

As I haven’t been out this month, I was keen to make the most of the good NE breeze and 14.36 high water, the only drawback was the temperature which was not expected to get above 6 degrees:( With the wind in the NE and way too cold for an open sea session it was time to head over to the River Stour, the first time I have sailed away from Levington since 5th December 2021 which was my last visit to Bradfield! I was still not sure about going first thing despite the good wind but when David Coles said he was definitely going that was my mind made up, which is just as well as Mag had already packed lunch:) I was not sure if anyone else was going or if the field was too muddy to park but when we arrived around midday Keith Farmer was already there and the field was fine so we managed to get our usual spot which gives Mag a nice view of the beautiful Stour from the comfort of our little campervan:) Had a nice catch-up chat with Keith with David arriving followed by James, in the end I think there was 7 hardy windsurfers making the most of the good conditions! So with loads of water and a tad on the chilly side with 20 knots plus of wind blowing from right to left we decided to set up quickly! Foil board on the beach it was time to chose a sail and for once got it absolutely spot op with my 6m! I was first on the water at 12.45 and in the ended lasted over two hours covering 28 miles with only my hands suffering a little with the cold! I had a few runs across the river to check the conditions before beating down to Wrabness where you get some good long runs across, it was lumpy in places which made you concentrate and good fun gybing in the swell, I did come a cropper a couple of times by hitting a wave mid-gybe but my gybing is coming along well getting a spot and year best alpha plus a year’s best hour which is pleasing especially in the cold. I was not sure when the tide was going out and my hands cold, I decided to head back and had some mega long reaches back even better when the sun was out! I then had several runs in front of the launch beach going for my gybes getting some crackers:) Not all flying but am getting more comfortable now especially helped by picking the right sail for the day with smaller sails making it much easier! So, in the end it was a top session and not too cold, nice to see a few people we haven’t seen in ages and Mag went for a short walk and enjoyed her day in the van. I warmed up with the diesel heater, had a yummy chicken sandwich, a nice chat with James before heading for home. More wind coming next week and hopefully getting milder!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10223245829026679