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 Friday 21st December – windsurf **** Point Clear – cloudy and very windy.

F2 Ride 282 with Tushingham X – 15 5.8 with 36 cm fin.

F2 Xantos 295 with Tushingham Lightning 7.8 and 39 cm fin.

31.95 knot max., 28.68 knot ave ., 9.74 knot hour, 19.36  knot mile, 42.90 km., 18.44 knot alpha.

After a little indecision yesterday, I decided to take a chance on Point Clear today with Mag and I packing the van for a night away in deepest Essex so I can hopefully sail two days before we head off to Liverpool for a family Christmas get together with the wind going light so I don’t have to take any windsurf kit! With a 10.30 you needed to be at PC fairly early and the van actually made it this time, the clutch went last time I tried to get here costing us £820, that’s another months pension I wont see! There were a few sailors parked up on the Green and I managed to get over to them despite the muddy conditions. The early rain had cleared and the cloud was supposed to clear and the wind pick up really strong! The wind was under 20 knots at this point and sailors were rigging sails between 7 and 8.5m so I went for the 7.8 on my Xantos 295, I didn’t want to go this big but I have been here loads of times this year when the forecast wind didn’t arrive so I didn’t want to be under! Neil Hurrell was first on the water with 7.5 and couldn’t get going so headed out to sea where things were better. Zipped into my winter suit I sailed into the lagoon and was planing OK but not fast so I decided to try for a mile run out to sea and sailed down the coast towards Jaywick, fell in gybing but couldn’t find any speed as I reached very close to the shore even if the wind was increasing. I was getting nervous now with the big kit so headed ashore, Neil said he had been fine, so I down hauled another inch and headed out, BIG mistake as the wind was now mental so I quickly turned and returned to change down. I left the gear on the beach and went and rigged 5.8 for the Ride 282 and headed back to the lagoon as it was way too windy to go out to sea! The trouble with the 5.8 is it can be a bit on/off but I was getting some OK runs and enjoying myself gybing but the wind went silly and I even had to sit it out for awhile as most sailors disappeared! In the end it was just Simon Chippington, Shaun Cook on 2019 slalom kit and me on my 1997 Ride trying some speedsailing! I couldn’t get any really good speeds, I broke 30 knots four times but couldn’t hang on to get a good 10 second run as you had to bear off into very choppy water!!! As the tide dropped the water got flatter and the wind eased and I had some nice runs trying to avoid the two kiters doing some big jumps. I went too far on one run and ended up in 6” of water and two foot of mud which was a pain to walk out of!!! Time to call it a day as the water was disappearing fast, time for a chat with Neil, out of the wetsuit and then a warming cuppa with sausage roll and mince pies, how festive! Nearly last to pack up again but thankfully the wind was easing as we left Point Clear. So good day on the water, mild too and hopefully get another sail tomorrow. Although this is my 81st session of the year it’s been a poor year for speed and I have only broken 30 knots in 5 sessions!

Walk **** Alresford Church Circuit.

We usually park up down quarry lane in Alresford but decided to stop by the ruined church in the shelter of the grave yard tress:) We then left straight away for a walk leaving the van at 2.15 and heading through the tumble down church, past the quarry fishing lakes to where we usually park, turning right and down to the River Colne with Wivenhoe to the right we turn left and walk along the river to Alresford Quay. It is a bit muddy but Mag takes it in her stride with her new wellies on! With the tide low, several birds were feeding in the mud and several dirty old boats were high and dry! Its then up the lane and back to the van for another welcome cuppa. So we will have our 144th night away in the van tonight before returning to PC in the morning where the wind is supposed to drop during the morning!

https://www.facebook.com/stephen.squirrell.1/media_set?set=a.10214452098068901&type=3

http://mkwindsurfing.co.uk/booms/