Monday 25th July - Windsurf **** - River Orwell at Levington – sunny periods.

 Foil – 19.81 knot max, 18.61 knot ave.,(year PB), 10.58 knot hour, 17.40 knot mile,(year PB), 45.68 km., 15.38 knot alpha.

Starboard Freeride 150 and Evolution Freeride foil with a Tushingham Thunderbird 6.5.

After yesterdays marathon 4 hour plus session at Felixstowe I was keen to head over to the River Orwell at Levington Marina today for some flatter conditions with the aim to try and get my gybing going again on my new Starboard kit which I am absolutely loving with my speeds improving slowly! With high water at 9.19 I headed over early arriving at the marina before eight, nice and sunny, plenty of water and a good onshore breeze so I wasted no time in setting up. I took a chance with 6.5 which proved OK for most of the time, as with most river sessions the wind is up and down but we had some really good gusts, probably over 20 knots at times:) WSW is not the best direction here as not as smooth with west or south west being better. I actually cracked my first gybe of the day flying all the way but most of the session was more hit and miss although I managed to stay out of the water most of the time, although I did breach the foil a couple of time pushing it too hard! But I did nearly get to 20 hits, missing it by a whisker and got my years best average and foil mile with probably my second-best alpha, it was much easier later when the wind increased and you could get some cracking runs the full length of the river from Felixstowe docks back to Levington! I was joined on the water by three more foilers enjoying the conditions out with several yachts and had to give a coaster heading to Ipswich a wide berth! Also, lovely to see some diving terns too:) With the tide now dropping and the wind going a little patchy it was time to call it a day. Shower pack up and wait for Mag who was heading over on her bike with lunch:) She arrived at 12.30 having whizzed over, she is loving her new electric wheel which makes light work of any head wind! Had a nice relaxing lunch before heading home for a cuppa and cake – top day:)

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