Owner:
squiz
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Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3070
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24th November 2016
Windsurfing: The Dip-Felixstowe Wind Direction: NE Wind Stength: 20/25 Surf / Sea State: flat Air Temperature: 10 Sea Temperature: Weather: cloudy and mild Max Speed: 31.84 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 5.39 (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)
Looked a good forecast for Felixstowe NE 20/30 kts and 10 degrees, with a
midday low water it was a rare chance to get some flat water in the River
Deben. I was the first to arrive at The Dip at about 10.15 and there was
nobody about, there was a big swell rolling in with a good force five. I
wasn't keen on trying to bet up to the Deben so had a ride to Felixstowe
Ferry to check the conditions, I parked at the cottages at the end of the
golf course and had a look over the sea wall. It looked good with an easy
launch with a nice long run of super flat water, the only down side was the
wind was too broad, it needed more east to make it easier to sail. I
returned to The Dip as Peter and Sally Ling arrived along with speed buddy
Peter Cutts. Peter Ling was keen to get out into the swells but Peter Cutts
and I decided to try the Ferry. The wind seemed strong so we both rigged
6.5 and sadly this was the wrong choice and we were well underpowered, we
should have been brave enough to rig 7m!!! We rigged by the cottages and
then had a job to get our sails over the big sea wall as the steps were a
bit on the narrow side and the wind was blowing the sail against the wall!
I was the guinea pig and managed to get going turning broad down the river
to mis the shingle bar, 31 kts so things were looking good but then we
tried getting back :( It was a nightmare! With the wind broad and sailing
against the strong current it was exhausting and involved short tacks and
lots of walking!!!! I managed to break 30 kts twice more and was only one
more good run off a 30 kt ave :( but sadly the wind just didn't play ball
and we gave up after the tide turned and the wind seemed to ease. The
surprising thing was the wind went lighter the farther you sailed towards
the open sea! It was nice trying to get 30 kts at Felixstowe - a rare
event! sailing with Peter. I think we would have had more fun and certainly
less tiring sailing the swells at The Dip, perhaps I will do that tomorrow
as the forecast is similar but with sunshine, the highlight of the day was
spotting a seal :) I covered under 6 miles in three hours which shows just
how hard it was getting upwind!
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