Sunday 25th June – windsurf **** Fraisthorpe – sunny periods
F2 Ride 282, Tushingham Lightning 7.8, 38 cm fin. Wind – west 10 – 30 mph
26.14 kt. max., 24.53 kt. Ave., 20.69 kt. mile, 46.80 km., 11.20 kt. alpha, 12.27 hour.
Second good night in our spot just outside Fraisthorpe. Not so sunny today and made it to the beach 30 minutes later. Not a windsurfer in sight as wind was still light. Had just made a cuppa and breakfast when a couple of windsurfers turned up and parked nearby and I recognised the taller one straight away as Facebook friend Martin Mc Court, so that’s yet another one I have met now :) Martin and his mate (sorry I can’t remember your name) came over for a great chat and the funny thing was they know the sailors who amused us yesterday :) A lone windsurfer was out floundering about so we continued with our breakfast while Martin pumped up his large SUP and went for a paddle even though the sea was miles away at low tide!
A few more sailors were about now and some were starting to plane to the right of the turbines so with Martin rigging 8.5 on his 140 lt. I got the kit off and went for my 7.8 which fits on the 115 OK. I didn’t put too much downhaul on but hit some surprisingly big gusts which pushes you further offshore than you want to go! I was on the limit at times and would have gone faster with the 6.5 as the bigger 7.8 has always been a little slow but it did get me through the lulls! I had to land by the first caravan site for more downhaul before heading back. I was sailing 3 mile runs and planing a lot of the way too but not as fast as yesterday. After an hour with the wind a little lighter I went back to the van for a sandwich watching the sailors on the water struggle, they don’t seem brave enough to sail down to the windier section.
With the tide now coming in I had to go and sail again as the small waves were over my sail, I sailed even further this time, past the second caravan site then back nearly into Brid but that pushed me offshore and trying to get upwind closer to the shore is difficult when way over powdered and I was thinking that at any moment something was going to give and in the end, it was me when I went in on top of the sail and put a big hole near the boom. So that’s the 7.8 gone as it’s not worth repairing so Ebay here I came when I get home! I managed to waterstart and sail back. With the tide now nearly to the cliff I didn’t have to walk far to pack up:)
So again, another good wash before a scone and cuppa, supplies are getting low so we will have to find a shop before moving onto Flamborough Head. Relaxed and read watching the mad dogs fetching balls in the sea and Martin going for one last SUP paddle before heading home. The last hour was spoilt slightly by a middle-aged couple who insisted on going topless who went in for some serious groping on the beach in plain sight! Enough to put us off our Spam,beans and egg, you wanted to shout ‘ Get a room’ , it wouldn’t have been so bad if they had chosen a place not overlooked by half a dozen cars! They went in the end probably to look for a lay-by on the way home! We packed up and filled our water bottles from a tap in the middle of a field before returning to our spot just outside Fraisthorpe. As the sun sets behind the van a Barn Owl has just flown past:)
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