Tuesday 26^th May – windsurf ** - La Franqui – cloudy then sunny – nw 25/55 mph

Fanatic 80, 5.8. 28 cm fin, Max 38.90kts, ave 36.30, mile 34.30 kts (best this trip)

OUR 36^th WEDDING ANNIVERSERY!!! The best day of my life meeting Mag :)

Yet another windy day!!! Will it never stop – getting fed up with it now, want to get on with our holiday!!! Good night at our lovely spot in the woods above Gruissan so after a relaxing breakfast I pack the boards in the van and head the 30 miles back to La Franqui stopping at the lidl in Narbonne to restock :) Arrived at the beach at midday with several sailors there but mostly they were taking a break as the strong wind of the morning had eased, maybe because it had clouded over? With the wind struggling to make 30 mph I rigged the 5.8 and took out my Fanatic 80 and had some nice runs nothing fast just fun sailing when the wind really kicked in again gusting over 50 mph again:( and going broad, chopping up the water – time for a break. The wind eased for a short time so I put the weight jacket on again and went for a mile run, it was very bumpy along the whole course but the slalom board handles it better than the speedboard and I was amazed to find later that I had done a 34.30kt mile, my best of the trip and only a knot off my best – so not a complete waste of time but nearly!!! The wind had gone mental by this time and broad and I didn’t risk sailing back as didn’t want to put my rescue beacon to the test and a mile is a long way to walk with your weight jacket on! It was even a nightmare getting my kit back to the van and de-rigging was a struggle! But we loaded the van and got the hell off the beach heading back to our sheltered spot at Gruissan to relax reading our books before heading out for another nice walk around the vineyards – fingers crossed only one more windy day and perhaps we can get out on the bikes?