Friday 31st May – windsurf ***** The Dip, Felixstowe – mainly cloudy but warm.

Fanatic Cat with 39 cm fin and Tushingham Lightning 8.5.

Fin – 23.36 knot max., 21.75 knot ave., 12.73 knot hour, 20.87 knot mile, 48.10 km., 9.94 knot alpha.

It was in the lap of the Gods today whether I got a sail today, it started off sunny and offshore so had a relaxing morning in the garden. Then at midday with the wind turning SW I went and checked The Dip and Manor deciding as it was warm even though it had clouded over, I would go down The Dip and give my much loved but rarely used raceboard. After lunch I headed to the beach and had The Dip all to myself and with no wind meter still, I took a chance with 8.5 which proved perfect for the 2hr 30 min session:) My plan was to beat to Landguard and hope for a good broad reach back. The sea was particularly big and lumpy but as you are going fairly slow going upwind it was OK, passing the red and white bouy I tacked 1.40 miles out and then made it well past the pier in one tack. I was fully powered up and, on the rail, windsurfing doesn’t get better, well I lie because the long broad reaches back are just amazing! I put in three more tacks ending just short of the River Orwell where I land to pull the track back. I then set off on the 3.50 mile broad reach back, sailing in this direction really flattens the sea off and the sail goes really light in your hands! Four long reaches and I am back at The Dip where Ed Swain is out on the water. It was so good I decided to have another go but stopping just past the pier. After two fantastic reaches I decided to have one more go with wind gusting to nearly 20 knots you couldn’t have more fun on a windsurfing board! So this is my 8th session in May covering a years monthly best of 387.48 km and hopefully we can get June off to a flying start on Sunday where we are getting a nice southerly, it’s just a case of picking a venue, another bumpy session at Felixstowe or perhaps a trip to Point Clear for a change??? When I returned home the delivery men had been busy as my new Slingshot foil has arrived along with my replacement GW-60 gps watch, cant wait to use them!

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