Friday 3rd February - Windsurf *** River Orwell at Levington – mainly cloudy.

Foil – 20.43 knot max, 19.21 knot ave., 10.56 knot hour, 17.37 knot mile, 42.25 km., 14.96 knot alpha.

Starboard Freeride 150 and an Evolution Freeride foil with a Tushingham Thunderbird 6.5.

I was keen to get out today as the wind and temperature are set to drop for a week from tomorrow :( The day started off well with a cool sunrise at Felixstowe, we didn’t walk down to the seafront but I managed to get a few pics from our back bedroom window. After breakfast with the wind from the west gusting to 20 knots and 11 degrees it looked on, I was just about to load my Fanatic Longboard on my tailor when the postman arrived just in time with my replacement Starboard foil mast inserts so foiling was back on :) I arrived at Levington Marina at 10.30 the loads of water and some very interesting clouds over Felixstowe docks. The wind was a little marginal so I set my foil board by which time the breeze blowing straight down the river from the right had filled in so I took a chance and rigged 6.5. The session started with short runs across the river playing hunt the gust, I was flying in patches but nothing special but then the wind picked up, gusting to 20 knots so I went for some lovely long runs down to Felixstowe docks in pretty smooth water. I did 7 long runs and got four 17 knot plus nautical miles stopping once to take some pics of the container ships. I didn’t push things too hard as wanted to keep out of the water, I was out over two hours with the only thing getting cold was my feet, mainly due to holey boots! I was pleased to break 20 knot max. speed with a 19 knot average, it was brilliant being out on the river especially when the sun was out, just me a few yachts and loads of bird both geese and waders:). Then the wind went patchy I decided to call it a day and had a mainly slow sail back! Pack up, shower and head for home, then realised I had left my neoprene socks in the shower so returned with Mag to pick them up!

After taking two pics on the BBC, s Look East including a mention for our lovely Granddaughter Maeva I got one on tonight’s ITV, s About Anglia :)

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