Saturday 25th March - Windsurf ** River Orwell at Levington – sunny periods and mild.

Fin – 27.86 knot max, 24.93 knot ave, 7.32 knot hour, 19.18 knot mile, 16.25 km., 6.46 knot alpha.

F2 282 Ride with Tushingham Storm 5.2m and 36 fin.

After two pretty full – on foiling days last week sailing overpowered I had pulled some muscles in my chest but today was too good a chance to miss being the last day before the temperature drops again. I did my exercises giving the tide time to come in leaving home around midday and heading over to Levington, dropping Mag off on the way for her second walk of the day. It was a tight fit to park as a boat stand had been put in the way but I squeezed in, there was enough water to sail with the wind was gusting over 30 knots, sunny and the water looked fairly smooth it was time to give my fin board its monthly outing, I actually used my 115 lt for the first time this year! I took a chance with my 5.2 but by the time I had rigged and put my wetsuit on the river chopped really chopped up making sailing challenging at best, next to impossible to go fast and windy at times too. I had a few miles runs down towards Felixstowe but the wind was particularly gusty and gybing was really difficult. I nearly called it a day but around high water the river smoothed out a little and I got a couple of 27 knot runs, just missing out on a 25-knot average. With the wind going even more patchy I decided to call it a day, pack up and head for the hot shower, the best part of the session. Then home and had a nice surprise as the lovely Maeva (new Granddaughter) was visiting again with Dan and Jay. Looking cold for a few days but might be able to get out later in the week?

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Thursday 30th March - Windsurf **** River Orwell at Levington – sunny periods, showers and mild.

Foil – 20.80 knot max, 18.51 knot ave, 11.35 knot hour, 16.95 knot mile, 45.00 km., 15.39 knot alpha.

Starboard Freeride 150 and an Evolution Freeride foil with a Naish Evolution 5.6.

With a good breeze from the SW and a balmy 15 degrees I was keen to get out windsurfing, with a dodgy knee still I was not keen on an open water session especially as several were going to Alton water and the tide for my favourite winter venue, Levington Marina it was low water at one, also they are dredging the berths and there are large pipes blocking our parking area:( So I decided to do my exercises after breakfast then decided to drive over to Levington at 11 to check out the conditions, I managed to park at the end of the marina leaving me a 100m walk to launch out of the Marina entrance. I set-up my foil and took it to the water edge with my wind gauge, with the wsw wind gusting over 20 mph I rigged up my 5.6 which proved OK for the session which in the end lasted well over 2 hours covering nearly 30 miles. Launching at midday I sailed out of the marina channel being nearly low water but there was plenty of water out in the middle of the River Orwell, the WSW is not the best direction but I had some gybing fun mainly diagonally across the river in front of the marina but did a couple of long runs up towards Pin Mill. Nothing fast today as the river was a little lumpy in places but had a nice set of gybes not dropping below 10 knots in my top ten gybes. Could have done without a couple of showers but it was nice when the sun was out, very mild too, just me and a seal with only a couple of boats out on the water! Now knackered time to land with no problem, hot shower and home for a cuppa and cake and hear about Mags day. Looks like some more rain tomorrow!

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Thursday 30th March - Windsurf **** River Orwell at Levington – sunny periods, showers and mild.

Foil – 20.80 knot max, 18.51 knot ave, 11.35 knot hour, 16.95 knot mile, 45.00 km., 15.39 knot alpha.

Starboard Freeride 150 and an Evolution Freeride foil with a Naish Evolution 5.6.

With a good breeze from the SW and a balmy 15 degrees I was keen to get out windsurfing, with a dodgy knee still I was not keen on an open water session especially as several were going to Alton water and the tide for my favourite winter venue, Levington Marina it was low water at one, also they are dredging the berths and there are large pipes blocking our parking area:( So I decided to do my exercises after breakfast then decided to drive over to Levington at 11 to check out the conditions, I managed to park at the end of the marina leaving me a 100m walk to launch out of the Marina entrance. I set-up my foil and took it to the water edge with my wind gauge, with the wsw wind gusting over 20 mph I rigged up my 5.6 which proved OK for the session which in the end lasted well over 2 hours covering nearly 30 miles. Launching at midday I sailed out of the marina channel being nearly low water but there was plenty of water out in the middle of the River Orwell, the WSW is not the best direction but I had some gybing fun mainly diagonally across the river in front of the marina but did a couple of long runs up towards Pin Mill. Nothing fast today as the river was a little lumpy in places but had a nice set of gybes not dropping below 10 knots in my top ten gybes. Could have done without a couple of showers but it was nice when the sun was out, very mild too, just me and a seal with only a couple of boats out on the water! Now knackered time to land with no problem, hot shower and home for a cuppa and cake and hear about Mags day. Looks like some more rain tomorrow!

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