Owner:
squiz
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Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3091
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18th March 2020
Windsurfing: The Manor-Felixstowe Wind Direction: WSW Wind Stength: 10/18 Surf / Sea State: smooth Air Temperature: 15 Sea Temperature: Weather: Mainly cloudy Max Speed: 18.56 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 10.80 (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)
Wednesday 18th March – Windsurf **** - The Manor, Felixstowe – mainly
cloudy.
Starboard Formula and Slingshot Hover Glide F/Wind with Tushingham
Lightning 7m.
Foil – 18.56 knot max., 16.84 knot ave., 6.73 knot hour, 14.31 knot mile,
19.90 km., 7.39 knot Alpha.
After a fantastic month in the French mountains we had to cut short our
holiday due to the corona virus and managed to get back with no major
problems yesterday and was keen to get out on the water. Mate Andy Mexome
who has really got the foiling bug posted that he is going to The Manor for
9.30 this morning and with a WSW forecast to get to 20 knots, mild too I
was keen to give it a try as I have only ever had one open water session on
my foil. After a long day travelling, I was quite relieved that the wind
was light first thing so we could get things done at home, I even managed
my exercises. I then get WhatsApp message from the Felixstowe group saying
that Any Mexome and Michael Galbraith were now heading out. So, after
breakfast I headed down to the beach to check it out, I spoke to Simon
Chippington down watching during a break from work we watched the foilers.
With the wind WSW slightly cross off it was perfect for foiling, a nice
easy launch and a smooth sea but the wind was marginal. My problem being is
that my 7.8 needs a repair and with Andy on 8.2 and Michael 7.5 I didn’t
think it was windy enough for me as I didn’t want to rig 8.5 for my
second sea session. Then both sailors came ashore to add more downhaul
saying there was loads of wind so I set up my foil and took a chance with
my 7m. I found someone to zip me into my wetsuit and headed out and soon
hit the wind band and was up and flying. To be honest I could have done
with my 7.8 in all but the biggest gusts and Andy was going particularly
well and has defiantly cracked the flying gybe! In amongst the slogging I
managed some nice long flying runs with the back foot out of the strap,
somethings hooked in sometimes not! Then with Andy and Michael gone, they
had been on the water much longer than me the wind filled in and the sun
even made a brief appearance and I had some cracking runs out to Wadgate
post, both feet in the straps and hooked in, I still struggle to maintain
an even flying height but I was pleased with the session especially after
not sailing for a month and I am actively looking for a second-hand foil
board but they are still way too expensive for a poor old pensioner.
Impressed with Andy’s gybing skills I did try a couple but ended up in
the water so perhaps I will try harder the next time I am out on the local
rivers! Also, a big thankyou to Michael who took my sail for repair in the
sail loft in Woodbridge:) It looks like we are going to get a run of E to
NE winds in the coming days but sadly a tad chilly!
PS - I did have trouble getting out of my wet suit as the man who zipped me
in caught a big chunk of my rash vest in the zip, Mag managed to get me out
of the wet suit and then repair the zip:)
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