Sunday 22nd October – windsurfing ***** Point Clear – mainly cloudy

30.20 kt. max, 28.79 kt. ave., 12.01 kt. hr., 20.55 kt mile, 47.70 km., 16.33 kt. alpha.

Another lovely quiet night in our sheltered spot at Bradfield and even woke to a sunrise but with the tide well out there didn’t seem much wind but it was a fraction cross off! After breakfast Mag and I went out for a walk at 9.45 even had a bit of a rainbow:) We started off on the beach as we headed towards Wrabness then found the footpath but the farmer had been digging a ditch and it was a little muddy in places. The further down we walked the windier it became with white water out on the river. When we reached Wrabness Nature Reserve it turned into a tarmac path turning slightly inland before turning back to the River Stour at the bird hide. We sat and watched the Brent Geese and waders before walking inland up the hill for superb views, past the sheep and back to the river. We ended up walking a couple of miles and when we got back to the van Jason Powell was rigging 5.3. Then Neil and Craig Hurrell turned up with Ian Clarke, Mark Smalling, Paul Davis and David Coles all arrived:) We needed a sailing Guinee pig as conditions at this point looked far from inspiring, with a big wind shadow on our bank and not much white water! Rig choice was a problem in the end us heavy weights went for 7m with the lighter sailors a metre less. Jason was first out and was way under until half way across and then got going. I had my floater 295 to get me to the wind but was soon planning and made 28 knots quickly, after the bumpy shipping channel it smoothed off on the far bank and you could really sail off broad:) The river here is a mile wide here and we had some full-on sailing in winds gusting to 25 kts! If you sailed out of the wind at each bank you could land and start again and for the second day running I got two 30 knot runs but was still only getting 28 kt ten seconds but it was so much fun trying:) I came ashore for some delicious soup and a chat great bunch here today, Jason even organised a collection to pay the farmer who allows us to park on his field and he was well pleased :) Jason was changing from 5.3 to 6 just as the wind really filled in so he went back to the 5.3 and Ian rigged similar. We all went out again as David was flying on his slalom gear and Neil was having trouble sheeting in! I then had several full on runs with the tide now turned in winds gusting to 30 knots!!!! I didn’t get 30 again as I couldn’t find a smooth swell long enough to sail broad down but loved scaring myself trying! What a month it’s been my 12th session so far, the best month of the year and I have now reached 71 outing – top year so far:) Had a cuppa and cake, another chat and as usual we were the last to leave, we love our night away in the van:)

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