Monday 10th - Windsurf ***** - River Orwell at Levington – sunny periods and much milder.

Foil – 18.53 knot max, 16.84 knot ave., 11.25 knot hour, 16.26 knot mile, 22.05 km.,11.57 knot alpha.

Exocet RF AST 91 with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Lightning 7m.

Fin – 27.18 knot max, 25.39 knot ave ., 14.57 knot hour, 21.49 knot mile , 60.40 km(year PB) ., 15.91 knot alpha.

F2 Zantos 295 with 36 fin and Tushingham Lightning 7m.

After missing both days over the weekend, I was keen to make the most of todays top forecast, winds up to 30 knots, sunshine and a balmy 15 degrees, what more could you ask for:) A few mates were going to Point Clear one of my favourites, good tide too but with the wind being SSW it is not the best direction for sailing in the lagoon so decided to stay local and go to Levington Marina again, hoping to foil and fin today. I went fairly early to foil first before the wind really increased arriving there at 9.15 and there was already a good breeze blowing so quickly set up my foil board, then took a chance with my Lightning 7m hoping that would be ideal for the fin later. Two more foilers had arrived, Michael and Robert who I think rigged around the 5.5m mark. I was first away and was soon in deep water flying off towards Pin Mill, the sun was out, the water flat what more could you want, possibly a little less wind! My 6m would have been better especially across the corner to the left of the marina where the wind was strongest as usual. I had hoped to do some gybe practice but needed a smaller sail, also I did not push it too hard speed wise as there were some pretty big gusts. I had an hour on the foil but with the wind increasing I decided to come ashore and swop to my fin board, the F2 Xantos 133 a big board to get me through the lulls. It didn’t start off brilliant with the wind still SSW and was pretty up and down, mainly a narrow band of wind on the corner. Also, with the tide still coming in beating to the main wind was not easy with the gusty wind. I nearly came back to take the foil out again but the wind switched SW and became more constant. In fact, you could now plan the two miles from Levington beach nearly to Pin Mill with the wind gusting to 30 knots it kept you on your toes! Stephen Miller had now foiled up from Nacton, Michael did the whole session on the foil but Robert also had a go on his fin. Going fast was not easy in the river chop but on turning at the Pin Mill you could sail the swell back which was great fun with some good gybing to be had too. The tide turning did not help as it chopped it up but I carried on and, in the end, sailed 37 miles on the fin plus 14 on the foil meaning I had sailed over 50 miles and was officially knackered with my arms felling a couple of inches longer so time to call it a day! As I landed the wind really increased so I tried my gauge and got a 38mph gust! It was then that Mag arrived on her bike, she came on the road because of last night heavy rain the footpaths were probably muddy too, she had stopped at a local garden centre but there was nothing she wanted. I then headed to the 5-star showers before returning to the van to pack up, a big thanks to Robert for helping me tie my foil board to my trailer in the strong winds! Mag then cooked yummy scrambled egg with the crust of a new loaf, we know how to live:) We watched a few boats on the river as the tide dropped before heading for home to top up on ibuprofen!!!! Let’s hope that’s it for wind for a few days so the poor old boy can recover!

PS – I nearly forgot, while Mag was moving some of her pots, she spotted a newt living under our decking, fingers crossed the kittens does not find it!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10221622721450004

http://mkwindsurfing.co.uk/booms

https://www.77sports.co.uk/