Owner:
squiz
Member
Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3091
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19th August 2019
Windsurfing: Levington Wind Direction: W Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: flattish Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny periods Max Speed: 23.03 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 12 (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)
Monday 19th August– Windsurf ** - River Orwell at Levington – sunny
periods.
Fin – 23.03 knot max., 21.27 knot ave., 6.86 knot hour, 16.53 knot mile,
22.30 km., 15.67 knot alpha.
F2 Zantos 310 with 44 fin and Tushingham Lightning 8.5m.
Starboard Formula and Slingshgot Hover Glide F/Wind with Tushingham
Lightning 6.5m
We were a bit sad when our son Rob, partner Hannah and Arlo went home
yesterday, we had a wonderful week enjoying every moment although Arlo is
non-stop absolutely exhausting for a pensioner but we love him to bits. So,
with a bit of breeze forecast today from the west I was keen to get out and
make amends for Saturdays very patchy session! Levington was the only local
option and when Neil Hurrell messaged on WhatsApp saying that he was at the
marina already with white water everywhere I was keen to get there as
several foilers were also going. I had not done my exercises for awhile so
I did them in the garden in the sun first, breakfast before heading off
arriving around eleven with Neil rigging 8m for his small formula board. My
plan was to foil but it seemed a little breezy for a foil novice like my so
I went for my 8.5 on my big Zantos to check the conditions? There was
plenty of water as I head off towards the bay but sadly the wind was very
very patchy, there was the odd good gust and I made it down to the docks
but it wasn’t much fun:( So I returned to the van and rigged 6.5 for the
foil, by now three more experienced foiler had arrived Jamie, Michael and
Simon who had sails between 5.5 and 7m! The tide was now nice and high so I
got the foil in the water and set off but the conditions were hard for a
learner being very up and down, 10 knots one minute 25 the next, even the
better foilers had wallowing moments but they certainly do the miles when
they get flying especially upwind, it is a get way to explore if only I
could get the hang of sustained flight. If anything, my foiling is going
backwards at the moment as I am falling off the back and being thrown off
the front. I moved my mast position to ‘C’ on the fuselage which put
the front foil further forward for easier take-off, I can take off easily
but just can’t control it so I will put it back to ‘B’ and see if
that improves things? It is certainly easier when using a smaller sail
especially when you spend as much time in the water as me! it is
frustrating being a fairly proficient windsurfer of 40 years being made to
look like an absolute beginner who has never stepped on a windsurfer
before. I think the biggest problem around here is most of the good foiling
venues are notoriously gusty, I can handle it easily on a fin board, just
rig big and bear off but it is not that easy on a foil, you can’t believe
how scary it is doing 18 knots downwind flying knowing you are going to end
up in the water! Still don’t give up, just needs more hours on the water
and some constant 12/15 knots days would be good. Big turn out on the River
Orwell today, 3 on fin 4 on foils and the foils won hands down today!
Photo Gallery Here
MK booms Here
Slingshot Foil Here
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