Sunday 30th July – windsurf *** Bradfield – sunny periods

26.68 kt. max., 24.25 kt. ave., 11.20 kt. hr., 20.62 kt. mile, 42.5 km. 17.15 kt. alpha

Funny day really – the forecast said wall to wall sunshine with a good breeze from the WSW so it was The Fludgers at Felixstowe, can be difficult to park especially on a weekend plus the Rivers at Levington, Bradfield and Point Clear but these were not sailable until about three because of the tides so a bit of a dilemma? Woke to cloud and the wind a light NW that’s not what we were expecting. With friends planning on going to Wrabness, Point Clear and The Fludgers I was still not sure. Mag and I went for a walk along the busy prom and met up with the Hurrells at The Fludgers but still no wind! Had a nice chat for an hour as the breeze filled in a little to what looked like 7.8 weather. We then went home for lunch and as I haven’t got a 7.8 at the moment and David Coles had posted he was going to the River Stour at Bradfield I decided to try there as I have never sailed there in this direction and was expecting an offshore wind and flat water. I caught up with David at Manningtree, we made a bit of a detour around Wrabness before ending up at Bradfield where Mark Davis and new formula sailor Graham from Sudbury were already there. Jason was out with 6.9 but the wind looked very patchy:( Nick Icke then turned up which lead to a big formula discussion so I just rigged my big shortboard kit and headed out. The wind was cross off from the left and very up and down! I beat up a little towards Mistley and got some nice gybes in the flat water but it was lumpy in the middle. David was out with 9.7 and with a formula board he could plan through the lulls, which is much harder on freeride kit! I had a good run down to Wrabness where it seemed windier and had some nice runs into Holbrook bay:) I then had to beat back which was challenging in up and down winds. I was amazed to discover when I got home that I had done 26.68 kts with a 24.25 kt ave covering 42 km so not too bad in the end and the River Stour is very pretty here especially with the sun out. Perhaps I should have gone to The Fludgers as it turned out to be 6.5 weather which I could do, perhaps I will try there tomorrow ?

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