Thursday 20th August - Windsurf ***** - The Manor, Felixstgowe – sunny periods.

Exocet RF 91 AST with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Lightning 7m.

Foil – 16.50 knot max, 14.70 knot ave., 9.69 knot hour, 13.90 knot mile, 31.50 km., 7.19 knot alpha.

After a top 3 hour bike ride this morning enjoying the best that Suffolk has to offer I was posting some pics on Facebook when I started to get messages on WhatsApp that several sailors’ were heading to The Manor although parking especially with a trailer might be difficult because this is a popular car park with beach users and dog walkers, free at the moment but meter have been fitted and will be operational in September, there is nothing free in this world anymore! So, I hitched the trailer and drove down and managed to get a double spot even if it was some distance from the beach! Andy Mexome was out doing well as usual having disappeared down the coast! The onshore breeze had picked up nicely so I set up my foil first to give the wind time to settle. In the end I opted for 7m which proved ideal until the very end when the wind dropped! I am just loving the foiling now and it has taken over from my fin boards which I rarely use now and it is easy to see why with the with in this direction as you can sail really broad, very mellow riding the waves very close to the shore, just showing off to all the holiday makers on the beach:) I did sail too close in at The Fludgers and ran out of wind so had to do a couple of tacks before continuing all the way to east Lane Martello tower, a journey of nearly 6 miles. The highlight being the rough, confused sea at the mouth of the River Deben where I slowed down to get through it as I was not sure how deep it was but didn’t touch the bottom anywhere! The run back was a bit of a beat into a big sea and I am slowly getting the hang of flying over the swell by constantly moving my wait back and forth. I got back to The Manor and there were several foilers out, it has really taken off big style here in Suffolk! I had a couple of fantastic runs down to the pier before the wind dripped and I had to slog back but it didn’t spoil yet another 5 star foil, my second of the week! Storm Ellen hits Suffolk tomorrow and I would have liked to have gone to Southend but low water is early in the morning and I will have to visit my Dad in Hospital so will not do that long trip, also I am not keen on a small sail open sea battering at Felixstowe, so might go to Levington for some peace and quiet before heading to Ipswich hospital, will decide in the morning? Then perhaps a trip to Point Clear on Saturday?

https://www.facebook.com/stephen.squirrell.1/media_set?set=a.10219668696160593&type=3

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

https://www.77sports.co.uk/