Friday 19th June – windsurf *** - The Dip, Felixstowe – sunny periods.

F2 Xantos 295 with 40 fin and Tushingham Lightning 7m

Wind SW 15 to 20

Fin – 25.62 knot max, 24.57 knot ave ., 15.35 knot hour, 22.46 knot mile, 49.85 km., 16.06 knot alpha

Defiantly looked more promising today with a southerly wind to 20 knots forecast which turned more SW in the end which meant you had to choose between two venues The Manor or The Dip? Again the tide was not great with high at 11 meaning you were going to have to sail most of the session with wind with tide. It would have been nice to get down early before the tide turned but it started to rain so did my exercises instead.  The rain now gone, sandwich packed and trailer hitched I left home at 12.30 with Mag still not sure but venue to pick? I had heard on WhatsApp that parking for a trailer was a bit tight for trailers so I checked out The Dip first, having dropped Mag off at The Fludgers so she could walk home. Conditions looked fine so I decided to stop and was the first trailer on the prom but several sailors were rigging including Michael, Swainy, Ian, Alistiar, Richard and Peter. The tide had dropped a little so launching was no problem and the wind line was very close to the beach. As I said it was going to be wind with tide so I took no chances, rigged 7m and went out on my bigger 133lt board with a 40 cm fin. This was pretty much ideal for the whole session but to be perfectly honest Felixtowe, either end is not my favourite venue as the sea is a lumpy mess at best. My first session lasted well over an hour, you could sail really broad close in towards the River Deben then heading up through the rough water and beating well past the red and white bouy before looking for a wave to gybe on not easy at times as it was pretty messy! Then you could let it go on the way in, playing with the swell and it’s always fun to sail in the white water in the entrance to the Deben! Coming ashore for a sandwich I then did another 10 miles beating down the coast before going for a leg burning mile run and with the wind easing it was time to call it a day. In the end I covered well over 30 miles but only managed 25 kt max but it was nice to be out in the warm sunshine:) I think sailors at both spots had good sessions and a chance of getting out over the next two days with Sunday looking particularly promising!

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