Again my mates think I have a mental health problem getting up at 5 travelling 70 miles to met up with Ian Richards and Michael George at 7 !!! rig in the dark and rain , carry my 90 lt. slalom and 7m sail the half mile + to the water when I can sail within a stones throw of my house at Felixstowe !!!!!! but we had a good couple of hours blasting first on the west course then as the wind swung the east course :) As usual I am off the pace as far as top speed is concerned but I did manage a good n/mile (improved my best by 3kts) and uped my alpha time a little in the lighter winds making gybing easier :) So need a few more go faster tips from the fast boys but am enjoying Southend even if the walk dose'nt get any better :( and we could'nt even sail the tide in as I had never seen the Ray so low and after a big rainy squall the wind dropped and most of the speedsailers gave up and returned to the beach !!! On reaching home at Felixstowe discovered I had'nt missed much as the wind went early,thats the advantage of being on the water at first light !!!!!