Sunday 23rd  November  – Windsurf ** River Orwell at Levinngton  –  rain then sunny periods

Foil – 18.39  knot max, 16.85 knot ave., 6.86  knot hour, 14.35 knot mile, 22.28 km., 13.49 knot alpha.

Starboard Freeride 150 and a Evolution Freeride foil with a Tushingham Bolt 6.5.

After a spell of cold weather Sunday was a little milder up to around 9 degrees, the early rain was supposed to move away to be replaced by sunshine. The forecast went to plan with rain and a sw wind gusting over 30 knots before turning west so the River Orwell at Levington was the venue, well that’s my only spot now that winters here! A couple of wingers were heading to Levington to get on the water before high water which was just after one so with the rain stopped, with some sun too I hitched the trailer and drove over to the marina to find the two wingers setting up in a heavy rain shower!!!! I decided to put my wetsuit on in my van by which time the rain had stopped so I set-up my foil board and walked it to the launch spot, a bit of a hike these days as out parking area is still blocked off:( The early strong wind had gone with under 10 knots blowing now form the SW, the wingers were blowing up 6 and 6.5 wings so I had to rig much bigger than I had expected, my 6.5, the expected that as soon as we made it onto the water the wind would reurn and blow us off the water, it did not! The wingers were first to launch but were striggling to get going so things did not look great but at least the sun was now out! I launched around midday and after floundering across the river the wind did return but it was very up and down, I managed a few ok long runs down to Felixstowe docks sailing to to bright sunshine. Shame the wind was so up and down and the wingers did not seem to last long, I think they get nervous when the tide starts to go out! In the end it started to cloud over and the gusts disappeared so time to wobble back, my feet were getting cold too and I am having trouble with my hands, there are no pluses in getting old! I then had to carry my kit back to the van, knackering, a quick shower before I was able to take a few pics of the setting sun!

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