Sunday 19th August – windsurf ***** The Manor, Felixstowe – mainly cloudy.

F2 Ride 282 with Tushingham Lightning 6.5 and 38 cm fin.

27.42 knot max., 25.39 knot ave., 17.13 knot hour, 22.79 knot mile, 107.80 km., 16.48 knot alpha.

For once the wind actually lived up to the forecast but the SW was more WSW making it slightly off. Was first at The Manor and it is a job to gauge the wind strength in this direction so took a chance with the 282 and 6.5, my favourite set-up:) The others started to arrive including a full set of Hurrells. They wanted a Guinee pig so I set off, first on the water and the 6.5 was OK, never overpowered but comfortable. I then stayed out for over an hour but not overly fast as up had to beat to stay in the same position as you had wind with tide for a while. In just over an hour I had sailed 21 N/miles and was surprised that I had gone just over 27 knots, didn’t seem that fast on the water and although fairly smooth close in it lumped up out by the shipping channel! The wind then went even further off so everyone came in for lunch and that looked like it for the day. Mark Smalling had turned up and rigged and had scared the wind away! Then it seemed to return and there was a mad rush to get out, it was a bit wobblily getting off the beach but you soon hit the wind as I went for another hour increasing my max a fraction and tried some leg aching mile runs out to Wadgate post! Then another break before going to my final hour session of the day and called it a day as the wind went patchy and I didn’t want to be caught out to sea for the second time this week! So a 5 star session for me despite no sunshine but covered 60 miles, that’s 107 km!!! with a nice top speed and out with loads of mates, this must have been one of the best attended sessions at Felixstowe this year:) No more wind until late in the week so we are off to Cheshire to pick up a new trailer, I have also bought two MK carbon booms so have spent 3 months of my pension and I don’t get it until October! I was lucky to sell my smallest North Boom today but still have a brand new (with 2 year unconditional warranty) size 180-230, just make me an offer!!!

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