Saturday 30th December – windsurfing * Alton Water – sunny periods and mild

26.68 kt. max, 24.56 kt. ave., 5.04 kt. hr., 00.00 kt mile, 14.60 km., 14.07 kt. alpha.

Back form some wild weather on the South coast but had the most fantastic Christmas break including 7 nights in the van which makes 128 nights for the year our second-best year since getting this van:) With the wind in the west, mild too and poor tides for the local Rivers when Neil messaged to say he was going to Alton Water I bit the bullet and headed there. I arrived early and the centre was still closed, then Neil arrived and the wind looked gusty light so we rigged big. I went with 8.5 on the 310 and the wind was as usual horrendously gusty with the water freezing:( This venue makes you feel like a complete novice and is no fun at all. It’s difficult to go fast and gybing is challenging as the winds disappears near the edge:( The 8.5 was getting a handful in the big gusts so rigged 7m for the 295 but was only marginally better. It was nice to catch up with some mates and enjoy the sunshine but with stick to Levington in future even if the tides are not great and I only really went to get my 80th session for the year:)

It’s that time of year to run through the stats for 2017 and what a good windsurfing year it’s been:) Like I said 80 sessions for the year much better than last year and windsurfing at 16 different venues with my favourite set-up of the year my F2 Ride 282 (1150 and 6.5, spuriously small for me!

Boards used: -

Fanatic Cat – 14 times.

F2 Xantos 310 – 20 times.

F2 Xantos 295 – 20 times.

F2 Ride 282 – 36 times.

Fanatic Falcon Speed – 1 time.

Sails used:-

Tushingham Lightning 9.4 – 8 times.

Tushingham Lightning 8.5 – 25 times.

Tushingham Lightning 7.8 – 17 times.

Tushingham Lightning 6.5 – 26 times.

Tushingham X-15 7 – 7 times.

Tushingham X-15 5.8 – 5 times.

Tushingham Vulcan 6 – 6 times.

Naish Evolution 5.6 – 1 time.

Highlights of the year:-

I made 30 knots 11 time at 7 different spots with a 37kt max at Southend but was most pleased with a 30 kt max at Bradfield on the Stour.

I remember 3 top days on the Mar Menor in Spain, several top days at Point Clear, some nice days at Hamworthy, Portland and Fraisthorp. Plus an epic 111 km. session at Levington and two longboard session, one up the Deben to Woodbridge and another across to round Horsey Island in Essex:)

I hope you all enjoyed your windsurfing year too and wish you all a windy and sunny 2018!

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