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Sunday 26th July- Windsurf **** - The Manor, Felixstowe – sunny periods.

Exocet RF 91 AST with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Lightning 6.5m.

Foil – 17.90 knot max, 16.52 knot ave ., 8.03 knot hour, 12.52 knot mile, 42.62 km., 10.81 knot alpha.

The wind was forecast to be less than yesterday, sunny too but from the west, meaning cross off here in Felixstowe so I was toying with the idea of going to Levington for the first time since lock down has lifted and was doing my exercises in the back garden. Then Mag told me that Andy M was heading out foiling at The Manor with 6.6 in flat water so I put my shortie on and headed down taking Mag along so she could have a walk. Keen foilers Andy, Rob, Ian and Paul were already there and I was lucky to get a parking place! Andy had already been out with his 7.3 but had quickly come back to rig his 6.2. With the wind offshore it was difficult to choose a sail so took a chance with the sail I used to great effect yesterday my Lightning 6.5. After wobbling off the beach in light winds Andy was soon up and flying as he headed towards the River Orwell. I too soon hit the wind line and fly towards the shipping channel towards the Orwell where it turned out to be pretty lumpy as the tide is strong here. Bothe Andy and I stopped a few times to check if we had weed on our foils as they would not fly but came to the conclusion it must be the strong tide movement???? The wind was strong further out and I closed the shipping channel several times but it was not great up this end so started to head back taking it easy over the sand banks. I didn’t hit them but Andy did touch it once or twice! If you came in too close you ran out of wind but I did get it sorted in the end I had a lovely broad run back to the launch beach, nice to be out in the sun. I followed Andy over towards the Pier where we found the best conditions, nice long runs from the Wadgate Post over a mile back inshore over super smooth water playing with the swell, great fun:) I did try for a fast mile run but as all Slingshot owners know these foils struggle to get over 20 knots which is just as well as doing 17 knots scares the life out of me and I did have some big wipe-outs by pushing too hard! I also tried a few flying gybes which is defiantly a work in progress but getting closer, will give it a push when I get on some flatwater again! After some great runs with Andy the wind went patchy for a bit but Andy can fly in next to nothing even with his small sail but I need a really good gust to get me going. Lightweight Ian was out flying well using the same size sail as Andy. Then the wind picked up and after a couple of runs playing with the yachts I was shot to pieces so decided to call it a day and more wind tomorrow with some strong wind coming for a short period in the afternoon so I might head down early for an hour on the fin. As we packed up the sky blackened but I got home before the rain. We had a big but short-lived squall as the rain arrived and the winds hit 30 knots, I just thanked my lucky stars I was not out on the water! I am actually looking forward to a few light wind days as am getting knackered!

https://www.facebook.com/stephen.squirrell.1/media_set?set=a.10219139917741463&type=3

http://mkwindsurfing.co.uk/booms/

https://www.77sports.co.uk/

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Walked 350m across sand at low tide (and it was aLow one) and had great time blasting to sandbank and back, Enough smooth chop to make it interesting. First time I used GPS in ages, max was 26.1 knots, thought I might get more but needed more wind in flat bits, though pleased with 19 knot alpha as first time on this board for a while. At mid-tide chop picked up so went in to change gear.