Owner:
squiz
Member
Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3091
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1st April 2021
Windsurfing: Bradfield Wind Direction: NE Wind Stength: 10/20 Surf / Sea State: smooth Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny periods Max Speed: 18.60 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 28.25 mile (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)
Thursday 1st April - Windsurf **** - River Stour at Bradfield – sunny
periods and slightly cooler.
Foil – 18.60 knot max, 17.84 knot ave.,(spot PB) 10.45 knot hour, 16.46
knot mile (spot PB), 45.58 km.,13.24 knot alpha (PB).
Exocet RF AST 91 with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Lightning
7m.
After some lovely mild days, the wind has switched around to the North
meaning the temperatures are set to drop so today looked like a good
opportunity to get a session before it cools off too much! With the wind NE
and with a late afternoon high Bradfield on the River Stour looked the best
bet, a thought held by several windsurfers as there was a good turnout in
Essex today. So spent the morning in Felixstowe, me doing my exercises
while Mag went to Lidl then she decided she would come, the first time in
ages, it was great to be out in the van again and Bradfield is a beautiful
spot to spend a few hours! Actually, it is the first time we have crossed
the Orwell Bridge since before Christmas. I left home around 11 which was
probably a little early but I was hoping to fin to start with if windy
enough. Arriving at the Stour first, the tide was still fairly low but
enough water to fin sadly not enough wind, shame really as it is super flat
when the tide is low! So, I set my foil board up while Mag had a short out
with the poor old van which has been abused of late! Sail choice is always
a little hit and miss here but went with my favourite Lightning 7m which
was fine for three quarters of the session, absolutely perfect when the
wind was up but could have used 7.8 or even my 8.5 which I had rigged just
in case it was not that windy. Several had arrived but were in no hurry to
set off because of the tide but it was a nice day with sunny periods and
not as cold as expected so I decided to wade out. The mud was a little soft
out by the yellow bouy but I found deep enough water after about 90m and
was soon up and flying towards Mistley. The wind dropped that way so I
spent most of the session beating just past Wrabness being by myself for
most of the time, I was joined by local James who’s foiling as come on
leaps and bounds:) I spotted a seal and there was a couple of yachts out
too and it is always good sailing close to the shore past the beach huts at
Wrabness. The best conditions are nearly always in Holbrook bay and today
was no different, it was windier there too! I gently touched the bottom at
Wrabness and then as I sailed towards the Grand school at Holbrook my board
would not fly even though there was loads of wind, weed on the foil me
thinks, I didn’t want to drop in the cold water so wobbled well over a
mile to the Suffolk bank to check it and take a few pics! I then had some
nice broad runs back but the wind was a little up and down. I just didn’t
want to pump vigorously all the time as it knackers my hands! It was good
fun trying to go fast broad, that definitely need working on as I still
crash now and again. Also gybing is a work in progress and I am still way
sort of foiling gybes but I am not overly bothered! There was several out
wing foiling from Wrabness, I am still not convinced about that, just looks
odd! With the wind up and down now I had a few runs in front of the van
before calling it a day. Then warmed up in the van with the diesel heater
blasting having a cuppa and cake with Mag who had enjoyed her day dozing
and chatting to Jason who had come down to watch. Then Dave White came down
briefly with his big lens which gave me the opportunity to have a word
about him collecting a couple of masts I have bought:) Mag went for a nice
walk while I packed up before the 25 mile trip home, we had the stop at
Mistley as three swans crossed the road:)
Good turn out today, must have been ten out, all those foiling having a
good day, just not enough wind to fin.
Photo Gallery Here
MK booms here
77 Sports (Exocet) Here
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