Wednesday 2nd September– Windsurf *** - River Stour - Bradfield – sunny.

F2 Zantos 295 with 39 fin and Tushingham Lightning 7m.

Fin – 28.63 knot max., 26.13 knot ave., 14.17 knot hour, 21.07 knot mile, 42.80 km., 17.56 knot alpha.

With wall to wall sunshine and a nice NNW breeze forecast there was only one venue on for today, the River Stour at Bradfield all be it a little on the chilly side! After a run of very high tides and with high today at about 3.15 we were able to sail for several hours in the warmest part of the day. Mag and I arrived by the river first just before midday and despite the heavy rain of late we were able to park OK despite it being a bit soggy! Local sailor Jason Powell was quickly followed by Neil Hurrell and I just had to decide what kit to use. I was hoping to foil today but with the cross on wind gusting to over 20 mph and looking even windier in the middle of the river I rigged 7m for the 133 lt to help me through the river lulls. I was first out and it didn’t seem too cold but my hands did get cold as I went for my usual hour plus to start off the session. It was pretty breezy at the start, probably the best of the session as I quickly broad reached into Holbrook bay but the wind soon turned a little patchy which is usual on river venues! Still I had a fun hour plus as after a few runs down river I beat back to join the others spotting a seal too:) The car park was filling up and, in the end, there were two foilers and five fin sailors out in the sunshine in beautiful surroundings. After some yummy chicken soup with Mag giving my hands a chance to warm up, I set out again. I had several more runs but staying near the van as the tide was about to turn. To be honest the wind didn’t really play ball as one minute you were flying along in 25 knots and then it was down to next to nothing so in the end, I called it a day. I am pleased I gave foiling a miss today as way too gusty for a learner, you had one foiler out with 8m while the other was on 5.5! Some wind coming over the next week or so but looking a bit up and down so will have to wait and see, would be nice to get a session on my Birthday which is coming this Sunday!

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