Monday 23rd September– Windsurf ***** - River Orwell - Levington – sunny periods.

Starboard Formula and Slingshot Hover Glide F/Wind with Tushingham Lightning 7m.

Foil – 20.54 knot max., 18.40 knot ave., 8.25 knot hour, 12.43 knot mile, 41.80 km., 9.24 knot alpha.

I was keen to get out on the Foil again after things have started to improve but was also tempted by a fin session at The Dip after Swainy headed there but in the end, I chose Levington arriving at The Marina around two. The tide was still fairly but there were some nice gusts with the wind cross on slightly from the left. It is always a problem for a foil novice to chose the right sail but I went for my 7m in the end and it was probably the right sail with some 20 knot gusts coming through! It was a bit of an effort to get to deep water with several short beats out of the marina entrance! Once in the deep water channel you could do long runs from the bay nearly up to Pin Mill, in fact this is the most Km I have covered in a foil session and also the first time I have broken 20 knots on the Slingshot, in fact I did it three times even if several of the fastest runs ended up with me doing some spectacular wipe-outs! I did jar my neck once and thought I had lost my sun glasses but I was lucky as they were hanging onto my spec-saver! The highlight of the session was sailing downwind out of the harness with only the front foot in the strap, even riding the waves at times, trying to control my height. I also had some nice long runs upwind to but found that a little harder especially with the wind gusty as always here in the river. Andy Mexome had arrived, rigged 7.3 and after a slow start had great fun beating up to Felixstowe docks to make the most of the stronger wind! We were then joined by Jamie who works here at the marina and we all did long runs up and down the river. I still find it difficult to sail through the lulls but am managing it better on the downwind runs when I can keep it going even with a fairly small sail. It clouded over and was getting dark when we called it a day and I actually left the marina at 7 and it was pretty dark and raining! There is wind forecast for several days in the coming week with Saturday looking very promising for Point Clear, fingers crossed the forecast holds! So the jury is still out as if I need a dedicated foil board but fancy a Slingshot Wizzard 150 but then I would also like a Fanatic Falcon 111 to see if I can gain a few knots over my F2 Ride 282?

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