Sunday 30th June – windsurf *** The Dip to Woodbridge – Mainly sunny and warm.

Fanatic Mega Cat with Tushingham Lightning 8.5 and 39 fin.

F2 Zantos 310 with Tushingham Lightning 8.5 and 44 fin.

Fin – 22.23 knot max., 20.02 knot ave., 9.77 knot hour, 18.97 knot mile, 45 km., 12.69 knot alpha.

What a month and June just keep on giving, that’s 14 sessions now covering a top 572 km. :) It didn’t look overly promising today with lots of wind from the west in the night but dropping during the day and swinging SE and with high water around 10.30 we were short of options. The Orwell and Stour would have worked but it meant an early start so after checking Landguard first thing I decided to head down to The Dip and take the longboard up the River Deben to Woodbridge, I WhatsApped my plan but no other longboard sailors came. I was another glorious day here in Felixstowe but not as hot as yesterday when we had a great day in our garden away from the crowds which flocked to the coast! Mag came and walked home along the prom before continuing her work in our lovely garden and got a large bowl of fruit and veg and very yummy they were too:) With the wind dead offshore it’s a bit of guess work on sail size not knowing how windy it was up the river I decided to be cautious and rigged 8.5. I then made the worst decision of the day by putting on my full autumn wetsuit as I had left my shortie in the garage. I then packed a rucksack with a spare UJ, harness line, rope a banana, chocolate bar, bottle of water, waterproof camera and with gps turned on I wobbled off the beach with the tide already pretty high. I found a bit of breeze by the golf club and was soon heading up the River Deben, always a joy:) Sailing past Felixstowe Ferry SC, waving to the people on Bawdsey Quay and the lay-bys were already full including several campervans in our favourite spot! I could use the full width of the river but didn’t have to start to beat until half way down the long reach straight. It is great to be out on the river sharing it with canoes, yachts, speedboats, and a large selection of dinghies including some lovely old wooden ones and even a few noisy jet skis! There was some bigger gusts and it could have been windier but never mind as I had the incoming tide all the way to Woodbridge where I arrived at high water. I did manage to run aground on one corner but freed myself easily enough as I passed Ramsholt. The Rocks next followed by Waldringfield where I had to sail through a huge number of racing dinghies, great to watch as they turned the bouy. I then shared the river to Woodbridge with a nice old brown sailed wooden dinghy but got some gusts and left them behind. Past Martlesham Creek at Kyson point and onto Woodbridge where the rowers were out in force. I landed on a tiny island opposite Woodbridge Tide Mill to take some pictures and have my picnic. Rested and with the tide now turned it should have been a toddle to sail back sadly the breeze dropped very light. It was under 5 knots in places but I got enough gusts to get back and I am sure it had changed direction to SE. I managed to sail the dodgy corner by the sailing club with no mishaps as the strong tide whizzed me out. I turned over the shallows near Bawdsey beach and headed out to sea where there was a little more breeze. I must have been out four hours covering 25 miles and after having a chat to Paul Smith I returned to the van for a drink and was about to pack up when a sea breeze kicked in. I then put the 8.5 on my Zantos 310 and did another ten miles in an interesting sea as you had to sail through the rough river mouth before hitting the smoother water. I managed to get a 20 kt average before the wind disappeared, time to call it a day after all I had been on the water for at least five hours and hopefully another breezy morning tomorrow:)

 https://www.facebook.com/stephen.squirrell.1/media_set?set=a.10216101872872240&type=3

 http://mkwindsurfing.co.uk/booms/