Sunday 25th November – windsurf * Bradfield – cloudy and cold.

Walk **** Furze Hill, Mistley.

F2 Xantos 310 with Tushingham Lightning 8.5 and 44 fin.

F2 Xantos 295 with Tushingham Lightning 7.8 and 38 fin.

19.80 knot max., 12.61 knot ave ., 3.40 knot hour, 9.04  knot mile, 6.30 km., 6.69 knot alpha.

It was always going to be risky on todays marginal forecast but decided to take a chance and meet up with Jason at Bradfeild at eleven. While Mag cooked her porridge there was enough wind for me to rig 7.8 for the 295 but by the time, I was zipped into my winter suit the wind had dropped:( As I headed off the beach I went to hook in and discovered I hadn’t put my harness on!!! Old age is creeping up and the brain cell are disappearing fast! I put my harness on but then decided to go bigger and rig 8.5 for the 310. I wobbled off the beach setting off on a diagonal course across the river towards Mistley but only planed for a 100m :( I had another run which was no better as Jason headed out slowly on his 7.5, I did manage to see a large seal heading upriver:) I came ashore to warm my hands and then the breeze picked up and I had one decent run across the river before the wind disappeared shame really as this is a great direction for the Stour. On landing I managed to put a large hole in my sail which was too damp to tape, I put the 7.8 on the big board but the wind had gone we decided to call it a day. I wanted to leave the carpark with Jason because I had a job to get in because of the mud but managed to get out OK. We then followed Jason to Furze Hill where we parked up and walked over to see ‘Big Knobley’ a 1000 year old Oak tree where sadly the local oafs had made a fire in the middle of it:( Jason then went home while Mag and I walked around the small lake with a heron and then back through the pretty woods still full of Autumn colours:) Loads of wind coming later this week and milder too so hope to get out again this month!

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