Friday 2nd – Windsurf *** - River Stour at Bradfield – mainly cloudy with the odd sunny period but warm.

Foil – 17.18 knot max., 14.63 knot ave ., 1.93 knot hour , 0.00 knot mile , 20.50 km., 7.54 knot alpha.

Starboard Formula and Slingshgot Hover Glide F/Wind with Tushingham Lightning 8.5

After two mega 5 Star windy sessions during the week breaking 30 knots on both days it was back to reality today! With 10 knots plus of wind from the North forecast and a good tide on the Stour I decided to risk the 25-mile ride to deepest Essex. Mag packed provisions for the day while I hitched the trailer and we had a nice ride over to the lovely parking spot at Bradfield with top views of the river arriving at 9.45. The tide was still fairly low so as Mag made some yummy porridge, I set up my foil and thought what sail to rig as there was a good onshore breeze, gusting to 16 mph and the river really flat, it looked ideal. After breakfast with the wind down a little I rigged my 8.5 but then it increased so I rigged the 7m as well. I put my shortie on and had to walk a long way out to find water deep enough for my 90cm mast, the 61cm mast is much better suited to shallow river sailing as I did catch the bottom and put a few scratches in my lovely foil but it just can’t be helped! To be honest it turned into another flounder feast as the wind went really light with only the odd gust which makes learning very difficult. I seemed to have gone backwards again and ended up in the water after a few short runs and I had even watched the Sam Ross video about sustained flight and was trying to put into practice which would have been much better with a constant 12/15 knots of wind which I am having trouble finding! I was sailing from Bradfield to Wrabness in light airs searching for the odd gusts and was surprised to see local James Christopher arrive and head out on his Goya Bolt 135 with a fin and 8m for a wobble about all be it in the most beautiful of surroundings:) James actually got going for one run but then the wind all but disappeared so I decided to head back and call it a day. As I neared the van, I got some better gusts and had some nice runs flying still not comfortable but better, I defiantly need to go out in stronger winds and use a smaller sail. A white pick-up with a trailer turned up which I assumed to be another windsurfer and it turned out to be a Paul Chandler who lives on Mersea Island and learnt to foil last year was working up the road and was checking out the spot as he had never been here before. He actually had his lunch with Mag and they had a nice chat, bad news he suggested that I may need a foil board! That might have to wait for a few to filter down to the second-hand market, I actually fancy a Slingshot Wizzard 150, might have to buy a scratch card:) With the wind going again I decided to call it a day and ran ashore, changed and had lunch with Mag. So, despite the up and down winds it was still a nice day on the Stour. I am doing the Round Mersea Island race this coming Sunday, sadly the wind is looking very light but next week we are getting a run of SW winds which might be perfect for foiling will check the tides for the best venue?

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 http://mkwindsurfing.co.uk/booms/

 https://wetndryboardsports.com/windsurf/windsurf-foils/slingshot-hover-glide-fwind-windsurf-foil-2019.html?SID=810929ee0d3d94236235c95d49103b2f