Sunday 5th December - Windsurf *** River Stour at Bradfield – mainly cloudy with showers.

Foil – 17.94 knot max, 16.91 knot ave., 8.87 knot hour, 13.45 knot mile, 29.48 km., 12.97 knot alpha.

Exocet RF AST 91 with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Thunderbird 6.5m.

Despite the cold weather continuing I was keen to get out foiling today after missing out on a session at Levington yesterday. With the wind going north the only option was the River Stour at Bradfield but not a great direction in December making it cold but we had a very balmy 6 degrees and to be honest the only thing that suffered were my hands! It was pretty miserable first thing with not much wind but we decided to go anyway leaving Felixstowe around half nine in the rain which was pretty heavy as we crossed the Orwell Bridge but at least we had a lovely rainbow. It was no surprise there was no body else in a very soggy field by the Stour, the farmer might be closing the field soon as it is pretty wet now with more rain coming! It was still raining but there was plenty of water but it did not look very windy. After a cuppa I put my wetsuit suit on and with the rain clearing I decided to go for it setting up my foil board. With a bit of wind on the river now I went for my favourite Thunderbird 6.5 and set off into the gloom with loads of wind, in fact I could have done with 6m at times and had the best of the wind flying the width of the river not pushing it too hard being so cold, unfortunately my board hit a wave and I went in early getting my hands wet which made them cold for the session! I was slowly beating towards Mistley playing with the swell and gybing. I noticed that several cars had appeared by our van and there were 4 wingers and a foiler out but they all sailed the other way! The sun came out in patches which certainly warmed things up a little, as I neared Mistley the wind went patchy so I headed back doing some long runs downwind with a bizzard overhead:) In the end I was on the water nearly two hours not too cold until I took my sail out of the board at the end getting my hands wet which was very painful for a few minutes but after getting out of my wet gear I soon warmed up in our lovely van with the diesel heater on with a cup of soup and a roll! Mag had a good time too going on a soggy walk, taking some great pics of the farmers sheep, finding a fantastic piece of driftwood then writing our Christmas cards and sorting out an old friend’s mobile:) we then have a good journey the 25 miles home and are treated to another rainbow, shower followed by yummy homemade cake with a cuppa. More wind next week but looking very unsettled and continuing cold:(

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