It was supposed to rain first thing and then the wind fill in wsw which means The Fludgers is the best option. We only had a short spell of rain and the wind started to build at 10ish so after shopping at Lidl I headed to The Fludgers and because the weather was cloudy I managed to easily find a parking place, Neil and Craig Hurrell were there as was Roger Vickers but they were nowhere to be seen. The wind was gusting over 20 mph but I didn't want to rig just in case they decided to sail at another spot so I put my wetsuit on. Roger then returned from walking his lovely old black labrador and said he had a heart attack recentely so at the moment couldn't drive let alone windsurf!!! :( here's wishing him a full and speedy recover)y on the plus side he did look really well !!! Neil and Craig then returned from a walk to The Manor end checking the conditions and I decided to rig my 7.8 and be the guinee pig! So I was first out on the water and you had to make your way carefully through the many lobster pots - some far too close to the shore - a hazard for swimmers and windsurfers !! In fact the idiot who puts all these pots out is a menace, parking on the prom and there are pots everywhere some with really long lines - shame the council can't ban him - save the lobster I say ! The Fludgers is my least favourite spot at Felixstowe with lumpy sea and strong currents and again today it didn't disappoint being very lumpy. My plan was to beat up to the pier and broad reach back which I did but the beat was slow going!! I made it in the end and had a long broad reach back a bit under at this point ! Mark Smalling and David Coles had arrived with both rigging 7.8 and the wind had built but Mag had arrived from coal collecting off the beach with a lovely cheese roll. I had another beat to the pier getting there alot quicker this time in the freshening winds, 6.5 might have been better now. I tried going broad coming back and got my best max - a fraction under 27 kts which I was pleased with in the big sea! Mark Smalling had disappeared miles upwind the other side of the pier and was having a good sail but I had had enough and decided to pack up. Mag was still there sitting near Rogers campervan with his wife Maureen putting the world to rights. So an ok sail but nice to catch up with everyone - most sailors out being over 60 !!! where are all the youngsters?
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