Tuesday 10th May - Windsurf **** The Manor, Felixstowe – sunny periods.

Fin – 18.30 knot max, 15.92 knot ave., 9.50 knot hour, 14.14 knot mile, 41.04 km., 8.18 knot alpha.

Fanatic Cat with Tushingham Lightning 8.5m with 39 fin.

It was an OK forecast for today looked ideal for a foil but I had my fingers crossed it would be enough for a fin but was in no hurry to get down to the beach as marginal and raining in the morning. Then after my exercises were complete David Coles messaged, saying he was heading out at The Manor for a foil, so I put my suit on and headed down around 12.30 to Squiz Lane:) where David had also parked with Ian, Michael and Andy all foiling from further along the beach. It was still cloudy but at least the rain had stopped and with the wind wsw a fraction off it was difficult to judge the strength but it looked breezy enough so I once again went for the big, old and heavy Fanatic raceboard. I took a chance with my 8.5 as the 94 is just so heavy to use and this sail is perfect for the longboard if windy enough! It was an easy launch, super flat by the beach and beat down the coast to Landguard Nature Reserve and although better than Sunday I was still a little under. I thought I had enough wind to risk a trip to The Dip to see if anyone was out there and had some nice runs of over two mile running down the swell but not windy enough to move the track from its beating position with a little dagger board too. My tacking and gybing had improved a little from Sunday helped by the smaller sail but I still find the board very tippy compared to a wide foil board! I stopped in front of the impressive Harvest House to take a few pics before continuing to The Dip as the sun came out and the wind picked up gusting to 20 knots at least, sadly no one sailing there as I started the beat back. By doing long runs sailing into some quite big waves I made it back in three tacks. The foilers had all packed up at this point and I had a couple of runs having fun running down the back of the waves, it would have been better if the track was further back but it had jammed but managed OK. So, another 25 miles of longboard fun and not as knackering as last time. Had a nice chat with Al Wiz and Ian joined in too before packing up and heading home. Looking windier tomorrow so might be able to get out on a shortboard as y new foiling kit has not arrived yet.

PS – It was a good day for my photos, for the second day running got one in the local paper and another on the ITV About Anglia weather :)

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