Sunday 25th April - Windsurf ** - River Stour at Bradfield – cloudy and still chilly.

Fin – 21.73 knot max, 20.65 knot ave., 11.02 knot hour, 16.25 knot mile, 30.17 km.,14.64 knot alpha.

F2 Zantos 295 with 36 fin and Tushingham Lightning 7m.

With a good NE breeze forecast today and high water at Felixtowe around 11 meaning The Dip would be at its best late afternoon and learning that David Coles was heading over to the River Stour at Bradfield I decided to join him. David was already there when I arrived and after checking the wind strength, gusting 25 mph straight down the river and expected to build I decided to try my fin board first as I had such a great fin sail on Wednesday and I don’t get out much on it these days as foiling has rather taken over! There was white water right across the river so quickly rigged my 7m and nearly took out my F2 Ride 282 at 115 lt. but in the end was pleased I changed my mind going for the bigger F2 Xantos 295 at 133 lt. even though that needs some wax on it as the non-slip has gone! Despite the cold the session started really well as I started the beat against the tide towards Wrabness and Holbrook Bay. I have had some good fin sessions here but the wind needs to be 25kts plus which it was to start with, I was not getting upwind as well as the foilers as for the most not quite windy enough. Then sadly after I had done all the hard work reaching the wider section of river the wind dropped away even some of the foilers were struggling and at this point my 7m would not have been enough for me to foil! Trouble now I had to sail back and after about 4 slow reaches I made it within 400m and decided to walk the last bit. So, the session started well then petered out, still we have no control over the wind, lets hope it starts to warm up soon! 
The good thing about today was I was home in time for a visit from our son who lives local and then a video call from our Surrey Son with Grandson :) and it has been a good month for windsurfing with this being my 10th session!

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