I am writing this from Euro Tunnel near Folkstone having delayed our weeks holiday to the Languedoc region of France a day to take advantage of the strong wind forecast
J
I would have loved to have gone to West Kirby but it was not possible this time,especially as my newly purschased Falcon Speed is being picked up from Rutland this weekend and my x-15 ,5.2m is coming the following weekend at Weymouth Speedweek so it was the slalom board at The Ray !!!
The day started off watching my mates windsurfing at Felixstowe on 4m then breakfast at Levington with people out with 5m !!!
With The Ray not sailable until gone 4 we were not in a hurry but arrived for dinner then a nice walk along the prom with mag by which time the twenty or so free ride sailors were packing up as the tide dropped. 5/6 speed sailors started rigging mainly 5.8m with the winds gusting over 30 knotsJ There was some serious kit from carbon art, f2, and tabou plus a couple of small slalom boards. So just after 4 we started the long walk out. It was very windy, the top course was too broad and the Ray still choppy as it was only just exposedL We all sailed off to the bottom course which was better but still bumpy. Sadly the best wind coincided with the worst water state and as the water dropped and became smoother the wind eased. It took me a few runs to relax and I am still sailing too far from the bank. I was getting braver in the end and even tried a mile run down to the pier but was well underpowered by now. I averaged about 33 knots peaking at nearly 35 while the speed boards were 3 – 4 knots faster!!
So – not so good as last time but good to be out with some others and the long walk back is still a nightmare especially with a 90 litre slalom board.
Back to the van at 6.30 p.m. and nearly dark then off to the pier end for fish and chips and to watch the fire works.
A good start to the holiday, nice to meet up with some other speed sailors who were a very friendly bunch and now off to France and fingers crossed for a bit of windJ