Owner:
squiz
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Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3070
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16th August 2018
Windsurfing: The Manor-Felixstowe Wind Direction: SW then NW !!! Wind Stength: 15/22 Surf / Sea State: lumpy Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: cloudy with rain later Max Speed: 27.33 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 42 (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)
Thursday 16th August – windsurf **** The Manor – Felixstowe – cloudy
with rain later
F2 Ride 282 with Tushingham Lightning 7.0 and 38 cm fin.
27.33 knot max., 25.05 knot ave., 16.81 knot hour, 22.71 knot mile, 77.90
km., 16.61 knot alpha.
After missing yesterdays evening session, I took my gear down to The Dip in
the afternoon but wind too light, it picked up nicely by 6 but couldn’t
be bothered to go down again and with todays forecast being SW 20 knots
early before turning offshore and raining by eleven. So, it was another
early start and Landguard carpark to sail The Manor with Mag at 7.30.
Again, Mag walks home while I decide what to rig, with my wind gauge
mislaid I have to guess (Mag finds the gauge in a hoodie at home) I took a
chance with the 282 with 7m and although not super overpowered I could have
done with the 6.5 as the sea was pretty big! I was on the water just before
eight with the aim of going for an hour which means sailing out to Wadgate
post about 8 times. With the wind gusting 20 knots plus from just west of
SW the post was a bit broad, the reach out was fine but you struggled to
get back in one beat so I sailed to the right of the post which takes you
close to the shipping channel and there were several ferries heading out
from Harwich! Not overly relaxing in a big sea when you are out by yourself
a mile and a half out! The nice thing here is that you have people watching
from the Coastwatch from the Manor Martello tower:) On the WhatsApp chat
last night I was expecting Andy Mexome and Strawberry to come early but
they didn’t show, sadly Andy didn’t come as some lowlife broke into his
property and he had to wait for the police, I hope the Bastards didn’t
get anything!!!! I came ashore after covering 21 n/miles for a drink and
then decided to give it another try as I now had wind against tide and the
sea had smoothed off even if the wind was a little patchy but I had several
broad reaches out to Wadgate even managing a planing gybe around the large
post :) I had had 8 runs out and with a large black cloud approaching I
said I would have one more run, big mistake!!! I got out fine but, on the
way, back and only 400m from safety the wind switched offshore and dropped
:( I was now well and truly in the crap and was being pushed up the coast
and hoping I could get ashore before I reached the rocks at Jacobs Ladder!
The rain came down and the visibility dropped but the 282 is just big
enough to sail in light airs, I soon passed the Coastguard Martello,
heading towards the pier but didn’t seem to be getting any closer to the
beach. I got the odd gust and eventually sailed within swimming distance of
the beach at The Spa and after 20 minutes in the water I made it to the
beach. All I had then was a two mile walk along the prom to the van in the
rain! Nearing the van I spotted the brand new RLNI inshore lifeboat
whizzing back to Harwich, so someone had spotted me in trouble and called
it in, luckily I had made it ashore without their help but it is nice to
know they are close at hand if you need help:) I drive the van to The Spa
and pack up in the rain as the Lifeguard 4x4 arrives to see if I am OK,
after a quick chat I head for home, the end of another eventful windsurfing
session but I did manage to post my best times of the month even if I am
still having a bit of trouble with the new GW-60 gps watch, but we will get
there in the end!!!!
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