Stephen Squirrell (34966km):
3055 days ago 2 categories   It looked good for Southend and as I haven't been to a proper speed venue since last December with 30 kt. sessions in short supply! As I have been windsurfing for the last 4 days in some challenging conditions I decided to leave my speedboard at home and just took my Falcon 80 with three sails, 5.2,5.8 & 6.4, I also had Mags bike aboard as she was coming for a day out in Southend. Being sailable until approx. 2:30 we left Felixstowe at 7 but the traffic especially approaching Southend was heavy but I was rigging by 9. Ian Richards was already there rigged and ready for the walk, it was good to catch up and he said it looked windy, rigging 5.4 on his speedboard. My 5.2 needs a huge amount of wind so took a chance with the 5.8. As it was cloudy with a chance of rain I left off the shortie of the last few days and went for the full suit, a wise decision. The dreaded walk out was not too bad as the tide was still fairly high and I could put my board in the water but I had to gingerly feel for the slippery wooden bridge as it was submerged and there is a plank missing! I arrived safely at the creek and sailed to the channel, with the wind wsw we were using the east run towards the pier. I was greeted by a bopping seal with his family on the far sandbank including a pup who spent most of the session watching:) It was particularly light, with getting going and sailing back upwind not easy, the wind was very up and down the whole time and seemed pretty guttless:( It was still good fun and great to be back on flat water, I caught a few nice gusts and was pleased with my 36kt max and an OK ave as I was under alot of the time. I had some great fun gybing and did a few planning gybes with max speeds in excess of 30kts and thought I might get a PB but just missed it! Ian had battern trouble and had to change to 5.8, he just loves that walkand seemed to be flying on his small board. I had been out for 5 hours and the wind had dropped, with the tide now turned it was only going to chop up so decided to call it a day. The long walk back with achey arms is hard and I was knackered but I was pleased to find Mag sitting by the wall on the rigging green reading her book with the sun now out:) She had made a nice salad lunch as she told me of her day, biking 12 miles to Shoeburyness, fine going but much harder coming back into a headwind! I met some nice sailers out on the water and enjoyed my day in Essex. After packing up we had a drive to where Mag biked with seceral sailers now out at Thorpe Bay and kiters going out at Shoeburyness which is a reaally great place. Again traffic was heavy near Southend and the dreadful A12 but Mag did most of the driving back so I could doze, fingers crossed no more wind for a few days! Checked Felixstowe for windsurfers and several had been out at the Fludgers including speed buddy Peter Cutts:) Not the best speeds but a good day none the less:)
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