Wednesday 7th – Windsurf ** - Bradfield – sunny periods.
 

Foil – 17.20 knot max., 14.60 knot ave ., 2.62 knot hour , 0.00 knot mile , 13.17 km ., 4.07 knot alpha.

Starboard Formula and Slingshgot Hover Glide F/Wind with Tushingham Lightning 6.5

After a top day windsurfing yesterday covering 105 km at Point Clear I came down with a bump this afternoon, remind me never ever go to Bradfield in a WSW again as it was horrendously gusty 5 to 25 which makes learning to foil a tad difficult to say the least! Still at least we had a nice view to eat our lunch to and enjoyed watching some kids playing in the mud, they were covered! The wind was cross off here and the water looked flat so I was tempted out for a foil, it looked very gusty and with my 7m out of action I rigged my 6.5 the smallest sail I have used to foil so far. It was a bit of a walk out to find deep water and I set off in light wind but on reaching the middle I was hit with 25 knots and rough water, survival conditions to say the least and not a time for a novice like me to try to fly! I headed back with the aim of swopping to my 115 litre but the wind dropped so I stayed out on the foil but it was frustratingly patchy, next to nothing one minute then a big gust the next making sustained flight very hard and again I had several good crashes including one where I trapped my leg between my rig and the back of the board, pretty painful too! I did get up and flying on a few nice runs, even felt in control a couple of times. If only I could find some constant wind you would really improve, I defiantly like the smaller sail! Andy Mexome came down with one of his sons for a sail but the wind was still very up and down which meant a lot of wobbling about waiting for a gust, not much fun so I decided to call it a day! It was way windier at Wrabness and Jason and James were going OK on fins so that is a far better spot!

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