6 categories

the day that didnt happen..forecast was for stronger but big holes..gusts didnt last and loads of bogging around 

patrik 115v4 / koncept 7.0 2019 / clockwood 38

6 categories

 Saturday 16th June – windsurf ***** River Stour-Wrabness – mainly cloudy.

F2 Zantos 310 with Tushingham Lightning 8.5 with 44 cm fin.

Fin – 27.03 knot max., 24.88 knot ave., 13.77 knot hour, 21.86 knot mile, 40.60 km., 16.31 knot alpha.

Having sent back yet another faulty GW-60 I am now having trouble with my much-loved GT-31 and have had to send away for some new 2 gb SD cards. I think I have lost the walk at Trimley Marshes and a windsurf at The Manor yesterday but I have got this great full - on session at Wrabness (well most of it, I think the gps only started after I had done a few runs) and a foiling session at Levington so all is not lost! After several bumpy sessions this month already at The Dip and The Manor at Felixstowe I fancied a change of venue. My first option was Point Clear but the forecast was for SSW which is not good for the lagoon and the wind was starting light and building during the day, so with a mid-morning high water it was not worth the risk. Still I checked the conditions early Sunday morning and we had 15 knots and as the wind can be more on the River Stour I decided to take a chance on Wrabness as locals Jason and James were heading there:) It also meant that I would be finished early enough to make the trip into Ipswich to see my Dad for Father’s Day:) Mag and I arrived at Wrabness around nine with Jason already there about to rig 7.5 so I had no option other than to rig my big freeride kit, Zantos 310 with 8.5. The wind was coming cross on from the left which is completely the other direction I usually sail here as it is usually from the North. Several foilers including David Coles were at Bradfield but they couldn’t launch as the tide was too low. You probably had to walk 100m to find deep enough water and it was a bit patchy because of some trees to the left but you soon hit some good wind sailing up towards Mistly. Again, the wind went patchy so I sailed into Holbrook bay for some top full on broad reaches two miles long out with some yachts but giving the grain ship a wide berth as it headed up to Manningtree! It was cloudy and I one point it tipped it down and I hate sailing in the rain but it was short lived! I then beat back to join Jason and James and by this time David Coles was out foiling with his new 9m Challenger foil sail. The wind had really filled in with gusts to 25 knots and we all whizzed by sea rowing boats out racing in some challenging bumpy/windy conditions. I had a long run up opposite Mistley and had a nearly 3-mile reach back. It was a bit showery now and with the tide now dropping and with the wind patchy again we all decided to call it a day. Another good session on the Stour, one of my favourite local venues but other sailors had good sessions at Felixstowe and Point Clear :)

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