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Up at six to check the wind at Southend - 20 mph wsw so backed lunch made the energy drink and loaded the van while Mag showered !!! I am keen to break 30 kts on my raceboard - sad I know,so loaded the Cat and 8.5 - taking the Falcon 90 just in case it was windy.Arrived at Southend at 8:30 as the tide was turning so rigged quickly so I could sail out with the tide as I didn't want to carry the big kit !!! Discovered all my drink had leaked from my camel bak in the front of my van :( so replaced it with water,added two chocolate bars and was on the water by nine.The wind was on the light side but enjoyed cruising up and down in the sunshine with the seals as the water dropped.I had a couple of good reaches past the pier trying not to run aground !!! Then a beat up the west course with the bank now out but the wind was too light and broad to really get going back :( My best speeds of the day seemed to be on the corner by the bouy but checking gps-results I got a 28 run on both the west and east course as the wind swung about !!! Peter Cutts then arrived using his F2 Bullet and 7m and managed a max of 31 - the best on this board :# I did manage to improve my average and alpha on my raceboard so it wasn't a completely wasted trip and it was nice to be out in the sunshine with a mate and the seals :) I missed the best squall when I couldn't waterstart with the mast just hitting my head and the wind turned west then dropped :# I struggled back up the creek where Mag met me and helped me carry back my kit :) It's not the most relaxing place to sail with a 40 cm fin and I did crash a few times running aground !!! as for 30 kts that will have to wait for another time !!! with perhaps a smaller fin and sail and of course abit more wind but good fun trying and out on the water for over five hours :) Mag enjoyed her day,even if she didn't see me much by reading and checking to the pier then checking out the town - we discovered that Southend is a really nice town :)

Fanatic Cat and Ezzy 8.5 infinity

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Nice day at the Ray (southend) but not enough wind for good speeds -- sailed the old Bullet for the first time at the ray and finaly got it over 30 knots ( 31.08 max)  It felt good with the 7 mtr race simmer and got my best Alpha  in 2011 -- only problem was fin falling back as the fin an fin box are damaged .    Bloody heavy to carry back to the beach in zero wind !

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Wind picked up as tide dropped so rigged 7.3m/105l. OK powered. Sailed to Dutchman's bank and had a walk about with the cormarants drying their wings. Sailed off the cob and ran aground a few times as turned too close to sandbanks and shore. Some lovely runs. The Aber couple joined me but wind was dieing them. Seeing them tack short boards in light winds shows what retirement and practice, and skill can do.

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Very gusty and wind shifts of 30 degrees but sailing in a shorty with the sun out so shouldn't really complain.

Max speed was right in the middle of the lake and chop????

Rutland / WSW 15-25kts / Slalom IV 68 / NP RSSII 7.8 / Select Elite S10 39 

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Nice to be back on the water after ages. I decided to have a go at sailing around Brownsea   Island - missing accomplished but it was hard work. I took out kit way to big for the conditions to make sure I got round and it turned out to be a full on blasting session! I think there are some fast spots north of Brownsea/studland side but was on my own and way overpowered so didnt hang around to test it out.