Owner:
squiz
Member
School of Advanced Driving Award 2003
Member#: 320 Location: Registered: 14-08-2003 Diary Entries: 2
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22nd October 2021
Windsurfing: Levington Wind Direction: W to WNW Wind Stength: 15/30 Surf / Sea State: smooth and river swell Air Temperature: 12 Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny periods Max Speed: 19.11 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 28.75 mile (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)
Friday 22nd October - Windsurf ***** River Orwell at Levington – sunny
periods but cooler.
Foil – 19.11 knot max, 18.00 knot ave ., 12.06 knot hour, 17.08 knot mile
, 45.98 km ., 13.69 knot alpha.
Exocet RF AST 91 with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Vulcan
6m.
After missing yesterday’s session, I was keen to get out today and with
the wind forecast to be west turning WNW my first choice was the River
Orwell at Levington Marina. With this being the second day of chilly
weather, I was in no hurry to get to the water but after breakfast I put my
full winter wetsuit on at home as it has a shoulder zip which I can’t do
by myself. So, Mag zipped me in and decided against biking down later due
to the strong wind and cool temperature. I arrived at the marina just
before ten with plenty of water and a good breeze blowing down the river so
I set up my foil board and then it was the sail choice lottery? With white
water down the middle of the river I quickly decided against my 6.5 and
rigged my old Tushingham Vulcan 6m which proved OK most of the time even
when the 30 knots gusts hit when I wished I had rigged my 5.2! I had hat
and gloves on for the first time this winter but the sun was out for most
of the time so did not get cold even when I went after the foil breaching
after a big gust hit! On the recommendation from Neil Hurrell to wear a
neck buff I was toasty even when it got wet! With the wind from the west
and solid all the way down to Felixstowe docks I quickly sailed down to the
container ships, as the tugs were berthing I stopped to take some pics and
was spotted by fellow windsurfer Simon Chippington while working on the
quayside and he actually got some pics of me with a huge container ship in
the foreground:) I then had well over two hours sailing having some
fantastic long runs going fast from Felixstowe back to Levington, some runs
being two miles and then on the return I had loads of fun playing with the
swell, sneaking up on the many yachts out, even getting a round of applause
as I flew past one large yacht! I did the Felixstowe dock run 8 times
covering nearly 30 miles, the highlight seeing a large bird of prey fly
slowly overhead from the nature reserve at Trimley Marshes and I swear it
was an Osprey but I could be wrong, it definitely did not look like a Marsh
Harrier or Bluzzard so who knows???? Nothing too fast as got a little
scary, some OK gybes managing a couple flying so getting closer now, really
helps using a small sail! With the tide getting high and the wind turning a
fraction more north the river chopped up so I decided to call it a day. So
a top session in the sunshine mostly, enjoying the beautiful surroundings,
playing with the yachts and enjoying the wildlife and not another
windsurfer in sight! The nice thing about sailing here is the hot shower
and its only 6 miles from home so got back for homemade soup quickly:)
Photo Album Here
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