Wednesday 18th August - Windsurf *** Levington – sunny periods and warmer:).

Foil – 19.71 knot max, 18.56 knot ave ., 6.84 knot hour, 14.97 knot mile, 24.09 km ., 13.41 knot alpha.

Exocet RF AST 91 with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Lightning 7.8m.

This is probably the last day for awhile with any wind so I was keen to get on the water again for my 10th session of the month, August has been good so far! With the wind west and low water around 2.15 I was in no hurry as hoped to get there just before low and sail the tide in. So spent the usual morning at home exercises in the garden, taking a few pics while Mag potters with brief glimpses of sunshine but mainly cloudy but feeling a little warmer. There looked enough breeze to foil so I headed over to Levington arriving at the marina at 1.15 leaving Mag to have a bike ride around Felixstowe. There was a good breeze blowing down the river and with the tide low the water is super flat, the foil quickly assembled next decision was sail size, it was definitely too windy for my 8.5 and not enough for the 7 so took a chance with my 7.8 two cam lightning. Shortie back on I launched without too much trouble right by the marina entrance being able to sail easily out to deep water and set off flat out towards Felixstowe dock getting my fastest speed of the session, just missing out on 20 knots! In fact, I broke 19 knots three times today but the wind was again up and down, with some really big gusts, easily 20 knots but with the water flat it was no problem. It is great fun sailing here blasting past close by to the many yachts out enjoying a lovely afternoon with the sun now out and the sky a deep blue:) Again I was trying to improve my gybing and am getting brave enough to enter with much more speed, not always successful although I did get one flying gybe which rather took me by surprise but I did take a few dunking’s, being backwinded a few times, must learn to let go of the sail earlier! I did come up under my board once and took a small chink out of my head, luckily not too much blood, no pain no gain! I did run into the mud once just past where the boats are moored in front of the marina by the yellow bouy which marks the speedboat area so that is a lesion learned not to go too close ashore there, no damage done, I was going very slow and the mud was very soft! I had some lovely runs getting my 6th best ever average then the tide turned, the river chopped up and the wind went really patchy so time to call it a day so beat back to the marina. Straight up the channel landing near the wall where there is a little deep soft mud but it is well under the water so you can get your kit in without getting covered! To my surprise Mag had decided to bike down to the marina taking a roundabout route of nearly ten miles, she had been there awhile reading in the van. After a quick shower to get rid of the smelly mud, rinsing my foil which was covered Mag and I had a nice chat, its nice to be out in the little camper, sadly it has not been slept in for over a year now!

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http://mkwindsurfing.co.uk/booms

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