Sunday 31st  March  – Windsurf *** The Dip at Felixstowe  –   Cloudy with some rain.

Foil – 19.45 knot max, 18.05 knot ave, 10.72  knot hour, 14.15 knot mile, 23.78 km., 12.13 knot alpha.

Starboard Freeride 150 and a Tushingham Bolt 5.5m.

I was keen to get out for one last session in March and with the wind gusting to 20 knots from the east I decided to head down to The Dip to give that a try, in hind sight that was not a great idea! To make the most of the 9 0 clock low I arrived at the beach around 9.30 in the cloudy gloom but at least it was not raining! I rigged 5.5 to go with the foil and after a quick word with David and Maggie Coles I attempted the launch as the wind was cross on from the left there was a shore break building, it took a couple of attempts to get away and had to swim a little way out but was soon up and flying with the sail size perfect. The sea was pretty big with breaking waves but enjoyed several long runs out and even managed a few gybes but it was always in the back of my mind that I had to land my foil gear in the shore dump! There was some nice waves to gybe on and am keen to get out on the sea lots this year, I did hit Walton Castle fairly hard but was able to waterstart away. It was then time to head ashore so sailed back to the beach, my feet had only just touched the bottom when a large wave rolled over my head taking my board and hitting it on the beach, not good:( I managed to drag my gear ashore and quickly realised it was not good, my rear wing was missing and my front wing badly damaged, also the thread had been striped from the rear of my fuselage so not great but it could have been a lot worse as at least my board and rig survived!

At home I messaged Neil Hurrell to ask if he still had a foil to sell and that I had a scerew stuck connecting my mast to the fuselage and he an Linds came around again, we had had a lovely visit from them yesterday! Neil was able to undue the screw and we agreed a price for a replacement foil so hopefully I will be back on the water soon!

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