Saturday 15th October – windsurfing * The Dip - Felixstowe – sunny and warm :)

13.49 kt. max, 11.65 kt. ave., 5.85 kt. hr., 9.12 kt mile, 11 km., 7.52 kt. alpha.

What a waste of a day! The weathermen had promised us 17 knots of wind from the SSW so spent the morning watching ‘Sunday Brunch’ while checking the Landguard weather station regularly along with several other windsurfers. Then at 12.30 the wind increased to 16 knots so I made a sandwich, hitched up the trailer and headed down to The Manor as Mag messaged everyone on Whatsapp. It was a nightmare driving to The Manor with it being sunny and warm everyone and their uncle had come to Felixstowe so there was no way you could park! So, I then had to fight my way to The Dip where Al Packer was out with 6.9 but only going in patches, Paul Smith had rigged 8m, Ian Clarke his 7.3, Mark Swain 8m and Andy Mexome went with 8m but the wind looked very light so went for the 9.4 on the longboard. Mag had the best idea and walked home along the prom! My plan was to make the most of the 19 degrees and wall to wall sunshine and beat down the coast to The Manor but soon realised it was not windy enough so returned to the River deben and played with Andy also out on his longboard as the shortboarders floundered and returned to the beach:( I saw one of my sons Robs friends Ben Gillespie out on his kite and foil board – foiling looks great fun and several of us windsurfers would love to try but it’s so’oooooooo expensive so will have to pass! Decided to call it a day and had a nice time chatting on the beach:) Still my day was not as bad as Paul Davis who broke his nice North mast just down hauling it :( It’s looking promising for tomorrow and also for most of the week, October could be a year’s best for windsurfing sessions as I am up to 8 already !

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