Thursday 14th June – windsurf **** Llanfairfechan – sunny periods.

 F2 282 Ride with Tushingham Lightning 6.5 – wind w? 10 to 25 mph

26.41 knot max., 25.16 knot ave., 12.31 knot hour, 18.31 knot mile, 40.80 km., 16.78 knot alpha.

Know it was a bit of a risk parking on the seafront at Llanfairfechan in North Wales with winds gusting to nearly 50 mph in the night but with the direction being cross off we thought we would be OK. We had just got into bed at eleven and some good gusts hit the van so we quickly backed the van roughly up, Mag was still on the bed we headed inland and up the hill ending up in the sheltered carpark for the Nanty- Coed Local Nature Res. We were under some very tall trees which was a worry but we had a good night, not waking until 9 in the morning, I think we are still recovering from our mega mountain walk! The really strong winds were supposed to ease during the morning so hoped I might get out on the smallest sail I have here a 6m. We headed down to the seafront to check the conditions and it was pretty wild with winds gusting to 35 mph on the prom, much more out to sea, way too much for me with the sea looking a choosy mess. Steve Carter turned up when we had just finished breakfast and decided to rig 4.7 on his small wave board. Mag walked up to the Co-op for some bits while I watched Steve, after a wobblily start as the wind is slightly off at the slipway he was making the most of the conditions hardly dropping a gybe, certainly not my conditions and to make matters even worse all of my mates had gone to one of my favourites back home Point Clear! I was on the verge of heading home when Steve came ashore after a good hour and said the wind had eased and he was going to rig 6m so I quickly get the gear off and rigged as yesterday. I had just missed high water but still had a couple of hours, not perfect but still good, the wind was up and down with the sea still a bit bumpy but had some good full on runs hanging on really broad but I find it hard going really fast here. I did improve my speeds marginally from yesterday and sailed way further. It got even better when the sun came out as sailing back towards the mountains is just breath-taking!!!! The Gannets are still here and I also saw a Gillimot so in the end I am pleased I made the effort to go out. After packing up, having a late lunch including Welsh cakes to headed back to the quiet end of the prom for the night, there is even another small camper there too, called the lady in the van! We went for a walk past the yacht pond with its family of swans munching grass including 5 signets and onto the Nature reserve along the coastal path. This goes all the way to Banger and would be nice to bike if the wind drops!

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