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| Owner:
mas Member Member#: 7693 Location: Registered: 29-06-2008 Diary Entries: 381 |
17th September 2020 Windsurfing: Bradfield Wind Direction: ENE Wind Stength: 15_20 Surf / Sea State: flat/swell Air Temperature: warm Sea Temperature: warm Weather: Sunny Max Speed: 19.2kts (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 24 nm (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise) Another brilliant 5 star day at Bradfield. Arrived about 10.30 with 3 there rigged read to go, so had many guinea pigs. Youth James was on 6.9, an experienced foiler and didn't look overpowered. Wind was around 15kts but there was all white water at Wrabness and Holbrook bay. I must have had a brainstorm cos I rigged the 9.3 mindlessly until I realised I meant 7.8! Couldn’t be bother to rig again so carried on. Big mistake! They all looked over powered except Lord James on 5.6. Keith was over on 7.5. Moved the tracked forward 2 inches and flattened the sail. The launch was easy - flying straight away and was heading downwind to Mistley as less wind. I was in control so headed upwind towards Wrabness, but then the wind was building and was now way over in the middle. Upwind out on the straps is like long boards or formula on foil, very nice as you can slow up by beating into the eye of the wind and stay low flying. Went to the caravan park round the corner towards the cranes then it was all white water so had to turn back. I had to feather the sail almost wide open with back hand just resting on it not sheeting and foiling which is ridiculously smooth on flat water but the swell in the middle got me having to clear the lips and fly high. Nightmares wipe outs as I breached. Halfway back the wind got up so bad had to shelter in Holbrook bay for 5 minutes as the gusts went thru. I fitted chicken straps to the RF91 Exocet foil board (2 in the middle) They worked great for reaching slightly downwind, but really if only Exo had just put one strap in the middle where I stand over the mast - to go really broad. Used the chicken straps for several reaches instead, but wasn't making enough headway downwind and the tide had turned, so was struggling to go back to Bradfield even in the 20kts. Had to go broad like my mentor DC says back foot almost next to front foot straps which does work, but I was hit by another huge gust, which ripped the chicken strap out and I went straight in the main bottom window panel. Well pissed as it was a great day and strongest wind I av foiled in. Tide was well out by the time I got back; thankfully Lord James gave me a hand. Keith was behind me so had so drag him out of the mud as well! Lord James almost gybed in front of me (been only foiling a few weeks) and Keith is now flying after 4 goes. He said he learnt a lot today as he was flying. He has a Slingshot Levitator with a sliding foil mast track. He had to move it to stop nose lifting too much. Another brilliant day at Bradders. Young James packed up early as way over powered on 6.9, cos didn't have enough time to rig smaller. Would have been a great fin day blasting to Holbrook bay. I have only used my fin board twice this year, so going to have to make a decision soon, do I need 3 very expensive boards and sails lugging around unused, and devaluing. Foiling is bloody addictive on flat water in the rivers. Been improving every sail learning new positions and foil control. 3hrs out covering 24nm max - spd 19.2 knots - calories 2,021. Heart rate hit 158, which must have been the big wipeout! |
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