As Mag and I are counting boxes all week in a warehouse in Felixstowe I missed all the big winds during the week so today looked my best bet to get out on the water with sunshine and a nice breeze forecast even if a bit on the chilly side :( With the wind in the west Leington was my only local venue, I arrived at the marina at about 10.30 to find the tide fairly low but it was cloudy and the wind wasn't that strong. I decided to give it a go, as it wasn't windy enough for a shortboard I went with 8.5 on the longboard. Launching by the marina entrance I headed down the River Orwell to Felixstowe just in time to watch a huge container ship - the YM Warmth - docking  http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/details/ships/shipid:993294/mmsi:477948800/imo:9704647/vessel:YM_WARMTH

The wind was still light but on sailing back to Levington a little rainy squall came over and I got on the plan. After a couple of runs to the docks I headed up river but didn't get as far as Pin Mill with the wind dropping but on turning the breeze filled in and peaked at nearly 24 knots, it threatened to pick up making the 8.5 a bit of a handfull. The sun came out and it warmed up but with more wind, a higher tide, the rier roughed up so going fast was a struggle :( With my arms now aching I decided to call it a day and headed back, on the beach the wind caught my lovely 8.5 landing it on a lump of concrete putting a small hole in one of the panels!!!! :( I soon repaired it with my new clear Gorrilla tape :)

Not the best of sessions but still nice to be out on the board surrounded by loads of birds and my 5th time out in January -  that must be a record for me :)

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