Tuesday 3^rd April – windsurf *** Point Clear – mainly chilly and chilly.

22.74 knot max, 20.65 knot ave., 8.81 knot hour, 14.61 knot mile, 29.60 km., 11.79 knot alpha.

Just back from our 68 day adventure away in our little campervan and I was keen to do my second session in the UK this year, I think it has been bad here as windsurfing friend Neil Hurrell hasn’t been out for two months:( Todays call was always going to be risky as the forecast wasn’t brilliant and the wind has a habit of not arriving here in the east:( We arranged with Neil to give Point Clear a try even though Felixstowe is OK in this direction, we just thought there might be more sailors out there. It’s safer and there is a chance of some flat water in the lagoon. Mag packed lunch and we arrived in Essex at 11.15 about an hour too early for the tide. Neil was there to be followed by local sailor Keith Farmer who had brought a F2 Ride 274 for me to have a look. As the tide came in the wind was still light but we rigged big and took a chance, I went with my 8.5 with the Xantos 310 while Neil started with 8m on his old-style Formula board. We floundered over to East Mersea but failed by a long way to get planning:( I came ashore at the far end of the bay as the wind disappeared completely and it rained. I walked back to the van for lunch and a chat for an hour with Neil, Keith, Michael and Kevin then I decided to go and sail my board back. Mag came for a walk, then continued around by the river past Brightlingsea. The wind had definitely filled in as the high tide had just started to go out and we had an hour or so in planning conditions. With the tide now going out into the wind and it chopped up badly but at least we were moving even if it was cold on the hands and you had to keep stopping to warm up! There were four of us out at one point and it did smooth off a fraction as the water dropped. I called a day at 5.20 and had to walk back through a bit of mud. Not a great session but at least we got out on the water