Team East (Engl-E, Great Britain) - 2019-03-15
Sailor 2 Second Peak (Kts)5 x 10 Second Average (Kts)1 Hour (Kts)Alpha Racing 500m (Kts)Nautical Mile (Kts)Distance Travelled (km)
Stephen Squirrell
29.37(D)
27.49(D)
8.61(D)
18.16(D)
0(D)
24.14(D)
Ian Richards
Peter Cutts
Lance Newbery
Ben Tilston
Hotdog
Jamie Bore
Tris Haskins
Rik Jones
benno
Will Trossell
Steve Carter
Trollope
Whitey
plum
matty
Ant
Venga Boy
tccambs
Killer Miller
Alex Lewin
Lewis Limm
Average
Stephen Squirrell (34966km):
1841 days ago

 Friday 15th March – windsurf *** Levington – cloudy.

 

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

 

Fanatic Falcon 80 with Tushingham X 15 – 5.8 and 30 cm fin.

 

29.70 knot max, 27.49 knot ave ., 8.61 knot hour, 0.00  knot mile, 24.10 km., 18.16 knot alpha.

 

We only arrived back at Felixstowe yesterday from a top month in the mountains - first 19 consecutive sunny and mild days, then it has been non-stop action all the way with 6 days skiing at 6 different small resorts, 7 days of walking/hiking and lastly our favourite mountain activity 10 snow shoeing expeditions which really do take you off the beaten trac.  It’s been top, knackering action and adventure all the way with only one near death experience, I think our kids despair at their parents at times, grow up – not us!!!!! There have been some big winds over the last week and was keen to get out on the water as soon as possible. There were not many options as we had a haircut appointment late afternoon as we look like the mad mountain people and with tides not great, I decided to give Levington a try, a few mates went to the local Reservoir Alton Water but I don’t like it there so waited until the tide changed and started to come in, hoping to sail it in. With the wind in the west you can sail straight out of the marina entrance and there is always plenty of water in the main channel. I arrived at 11.30 and my spot to the right of the entrance was coned off as the large crane was parked at the end and the small dredger was moored in the channel. I managed to park OK and spoke to James who works there and he said that it was too windy for the dredger/crane to work so I was alright to sail. With the wind straight down the river gusting to 35 mph I took a chance with 5.8 on the 282. By the time I had rigged and got my wetsuit on the rain had arrived and the wind dropped! I sat it out for awhile and then with the wind returning I headed out, getting past the dredger easily and out into the river. The wind was light to start with but filled in bid style as the tide came in, which meant the swell picked up big in the middle of the River Orwell. I was soon getting runs in excess of 29 knots and got an OK average in the end. The wind was very up and down with the river being too choppy to go fast with spin out a problem in the rougher water! There was a nice section off flat water down the far bank but the wind was very unreliable there! The nice thing about sailing there is you have shallow water both sides so you could drop in and wait for the wind to pick up or even drop a bit before setting off. In the end with the river very rough in the middle and winds regularly gusting over 35 knots it was time to call it a day!

As for tomorrow I should really go to Southend but I don’t think I can face the drive and then the long walk out to The Ray, shame really as good tide there!

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/stephen.squirrell.1/media_set?set=a.10215304583260498&type=3

 

 http://mkwindsurfing.co.uk/booms/

 



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