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Bonus session after taking a gamble on the forecast. There was a very real risk of there not being enough wind before the tide reclaimed the sand bar!

There was enough wind to speed sail before speed strip disappeared and I managed to get a couple of good runs with peaks in the mid-44's and 10s in the mid-42's towards the end of the session.

The forecast was spot on but it's a shame the wind didn't fill in just a little earlier because it would have been a truly epic session!

Great to sail with RRD boys; Whitey, Shaun C, Simon C and Danny G.

Southend-on-Sea
RRD Speed 41, 2014
Neilpryde RS Racing EVO 6 5.0, 2014
Gasoil Fins ELS L Asy tribord 21

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Another great day at Point clear - only used an easy set up today as still very windy  - just my Axis with small 27 fin and a very old worn 5 mtr Tushy storm - wanted a good average speed and tried for a good Alfa and happy to get over 20 knots --  and have a good play - enjoyed it loads - 

Best session for long time - maybe 2 years ! 

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After a morning of heavy rain and gales it looked it had eased so rigged 76l/4.2m. A bit of a wind shadow or small gear at jetty so launched by bridge. Windier than I expected, half the time strong F6 and rest F7, with strong gusts I either sat out on beach or on one occassion just lay in the sea until past. Good when not beserk wind with some nice 3-4 foot swells to ride down. Lasted about an hour. Sometimes you could see wind coming and other times sea looked like F4 but it was 30 knots. Other side of Straits looked more so stayed close to shore. 3*

A many good day after a very windy night with winds in excess of 50kts closing Felixstowe docks! We woke to sunshine and much lighter winds that were forecast in the afternoon making it perfect for Point Clear again with high water around four:) So we had a nice morning, doing exercises,shopping and collecting some lovely logs cutto size by a gardener friend:) Then we hitched the trailer and headed off arriving at mid-day with the tide well out and a very strong onshore wind! Point Clear first timer Ben Drakes was waiting for the water to arrive, then Peter Cutts arrived:) The guage was reading 40kts+ on the sea wall but a bit less down by the waters edge so I went with the same set-up as Sunday. I then strugged to carry my gear to the wall as the wind increased!!! I had a few moments thinking about changing down and talking myself to go out! In the end I decided to give it a try, took a couple of beats to get to the single bar and I made 31 knots on my first run and you could go fast on the way back too! I was joined by Peter out with 5m and we had a good couple of hours trying to find the fastest spots. After beating the spot max on Sunday I went even better today making nearly 37kts!! and only needing one more good run to get the ave too!!! As Sunday the fastest run was from the Shingle bar at the open sea end, heading down the lagoon before bearing away down the very bumpy channel. I had more runs over 30kts today but as the tide comes in it gets slower and slower  :( The little sun we had disappeared and it went very dark! wearing my precription sunglasses didn't help!!! It was time to try for an alpha in a short section of flat water in the corner but despite entering the gybes at 30kts I couldn't hold on all the way round on the 80 - getting knackered too in the mega strong winds and lumpy water! So called it a day at 4ish so headed back to the van and packed up.We had a cuppa while everyone went home and the rain arrived, it was then things went wrong when I tried to drive off the green while still towing the trailer my front wheels just sunk in the mud and we were stunk fast:( I removed the trailer and had another go but to no avail!!! A lovely man in a car stopped and had a go at pulling us out but the rope broke:( we then rang our rescue service at the AA and we were not on their files so they gave us a number for VW who when we gave them our reg. they said we were an Audi!!!! What aload of idiots:( and said they couldn't help us but just before hanging up said that as our van is older(a 58plate) we might be with the RAC and gave us a number where a really helpful young lady said we were covered to be towed out and the van would be with us within 90mins. It took over two hours for him to arrive but he made light work of pulling us out:) It was then a 40 mile trip home in the dark with a dodgey trailer - it's geting well past it's sell by date and it's time to the a new one!!! So home at 7:30 after a mainly top day:)

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2 warm and very windy days at Portland, square conditions made getting speeds a bit of a challenge not to mention shifty gusts trying to rip your arms off. But I really enjoyed it.