Longboard saves the day again :)

The mild weather continues and my 3rd day out in a row!!! The forecast looked good for Point Clear so after checking on Facebook that Peter Cutts was still going, I set-off for Essex at eleven with the rain gone :) I arrived at midday and Peter was  already there in the furthest car park as the green was a bit soft! The sun even managed to show its face and it was a balmy 13 degrees:) We tried the gauge on the beach and was showing 17/20mph so we were going to rig 7.8, with Keith Farmer going for 8.5, but on taking my board to water’s edge and with the wind had increasing to 20/26mph I rigged my 7m while Peter rigged 6.5. Sadly by the time I had my wetsuit on the wind seemed to have disappeared, I had a go with this set up wobbling across the bay, landing on the shingle spit as two kiters set up. I then had loads of trouble getting off with the strong current and nonexistent wind :(  I did get back slowly and after having a chat; it was too nice a day not to try again so I rigged big and went out on the longboard. I beat over a mile out towards Jaywick before turning and sailing past Mersea Island and up the River Colne - over three miles and it was beautiful with hundreds of waders:) The wind teased here and I was going nicely. There is a large area of water in the wide river and would be good on a shortboard in a stronger westerly, I will try it another time. I enjoyed the run so much I did it again, sadly a large black cloud covered the sun and the wind dropped a notch :( It was time to return as it was getting dark but I passed Brightlingsea close with people crabbing before a quick trip into the lagoon and back to the beach. Everyone had gone except Keith who helped me get my gear back to the van and gave me a warming coffee. I then packed up two rigs and left in the dark for a 40 mile trip home!