Saturday 30th October - Windsurf ** The Manor at Felixstowe – sunny periods and mild.
Foil – 16.39 knot max, 15.50 knot ave ., 8.40 knot hour, 14.35 knot mile , 30.26 km ., 6.10 knot alpha.
Exocet RF AST 91 with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Vulcan 6m.
Had our son with his partner and the lovely Grandson Arlo down for a few days last week so missed a couple of good foiling sessions but that does not matter as we had a fantastic time despite our son Robert being ill, he had a really bad cough:( Then missed out again yesterday as it was windy and rough here in Felixstowe certainly not my conditions and with a bad tide for Levington I was keen to get out today despite not feeling 100% as I have got some of my sons’ germs! The forecast was to strong wind and rain in the morning, clearing at lunch time with the wind easing down which worked out well as it coincided with low water, usually the best time for Felixstowe. Even though a bit thick headed I manged my exercises this morning the first time for several day as the rain fell. Then around midday the rain cleared and the sun appeared, with the wind WSW The Manor was the best option so I headed there to meet up with Robert, Ian and Andy all foiling and Tom on the fin. The wind was well off so we set up our foil boards with sails ranging from 5.3 to 6m. Andy was first away with 5.8 and soon reached the wind line and was up and flying. Feeling under the weather I wanted an easy sail and my 6m proved ideal to start with as I had a mellow run down to The Dip to see if anyone was out there? The sea was pretty big as usual around Jacobs Ladder and I had a little bit of trouble keeping the board in the water with legs like jelly and a thick head but it was still lovely being out in the sunshine with some top clouds too:) No one out at The Dip where I stopped to take some pics before starting the beat back nicely powered to start. Then the wind eased back so with no chance of flying I was making slow progress back in a big sea but at least the tide was helping. The wind then came back in patches and I managed to fly back. So not great with the wind a little up and down but it was nice to be out in the sunshine and I tried a few gybes, I am now switching the rig first then changing my feet last which is working better, can’t wait to try this on the flatter water of the Orwell to see if I can crack foil gybes before it gets too cold! Another wet, windy day tomorrow which I will give a miss and then perhaps get out on Monday but getting cooler now!
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