Personal logs for windsurfing, surfing, kitesurfing and other sports. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php Copyright 2006. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20782/maker/Llanfairfechan 17th, April 2026 - Quite offshore then soon swung round with strong gusts but good hip-high wind swells and rides. Figured front foot was too much across board as front foot heavy so using that to level board, moved foot forward for more even pressure then stance, stability and footswaps were much better. Great fun. Got too windy after an hour and packed up as buzzin', glad I didn't change down as swung back offshore with wind shadow, so wind gods were with me for once. Rating: 5 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20782/maker/Llanfairfechan Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20781/squiz/Woodbridge%20circuit%20 16th, April 2026 - Thursday 16th April - walk **** – Woodbridge circuit – mainly cloudy with very light rain. There was a chance of enough breeze for a windsurf foil but after waiting for ages yesterday for the tide to drop and the wind to pick up I couldn’t face that again and thought it would nice to spend some time with Mag:) After breakfast I started my exercises in the sunny back garden, then a few very light showers started so I had to finish them indoors before packing a picnic. I was not sure where to go but decided on Woodbridge as we haven’t been there for awhile and left Felixstowe around midday in yet more showers, not very promising for a walk! We managed to park at the park with the tennis courts behind the sailing club and had to wait for a shower to pass before setting off to the railway crossing leading to Kyson Point, still miserable in the wet but luckily that cleared even if for the most part remained cloudy! The rare breed’s cattle in the marshy area leading down to the River Deben had calves which were cool! You come out on the Deben path just short of Martlesham Creek but we turned back towards Woodbridge, the path is very doomed and not great to walk on for such a popular route! The tide was high so not many birds and still too early in the year for boats on the river! We found a bench sheltered from the breeze blowing down the river with lovely views down towards the Tide Mill to enjoy another top picnic lunch and even got a few brief glimpse of sun with a top bank of clouds over Woodbridge! After a relaxing lunch we continued onto the Tide Mill past a ramshackle selection of houseboats and barges as with most of these waterside spots many of the craft are well past their best! The big red van selling coffee is parked in front of the Tide Mill which somewhat spoils the look and is not great for photos :( For a change we headed up to the big church near the private school and found a nice footpath through a park leading to the main road before making a small detour to look at the very expensive plants in Notcutts Garden Centre, Mag did find a couple of nice ones for a fiver before returning to the van. We took the scenic county lane route back to Felixstowe, spotting two muntjac deer near The Fox pub in Newbourne to end a really nice day out despite the less than perfect weather! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10235737233943995]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20781/squiz/Woodbridge%20circuit%20 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20780/maker/Llanfairfechan 16th, April 2026 - A few good swell rides but after a good start there were some big holes and lots of drifting. A sure way to increase the wind was to get a bigger wing. Started standing across the board which is making it unsteady, don't know why I do that on one tack. Swell rides made it 3* Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20780/maker/Llanfairfechan Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20779/maker/Llanfairfechan 15th, April 2026 - Windier then it looked, the blustery gusts were too much. Failed loads of footswaps then eventually got a few as I bore off more so took something off the wind and concentrated on getting stable though that did not happen much. Maybe I should use front footstraps. Used Px160 tail as could not be bothered changing, should have used H185 as makes more stable though does not turn as well. Rating: 2 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20779/maker/Llanfairfechan Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20778/squiz/The%20Manor%20at%20Felixsrtowe 15th, April 2026 - Wednesday 15th March – Windsurf **** The Manor at Felixstowe – sunny periods. Foil – 19.51 knot max, 17.49 knot ave., 13.24 knot hour (year PB), 15.07 knot mile, 38.00 km., 13.38 knot alpha. Starboard Freeride 150 (LW) and a Evolution Freeride foil with a Tushingham Bolt 5.75 m. With a good breeze from the south forecast and mild I was keen to get back out onto the sea for the first time this year so gave a morning session at Levington a miss! With high tide at 11 I was in no hurry to go so had plenty of time to do my exercises, then around one I could not wait any longer so headed out, I checked The Dip first, a kite foiler was in the puddle but it did not look very inspiring especially as it was still cloudy so I headed over to check out The Manor end, there was nobody there and workman are working on the steps to the beach so they are closed, as Squiz Lane at the end of the prom was empty I parked there and decided to give it a go even though at this point it was marginal, defiantly 6.5 weather! Sadly the flood gate is still closed, it is not opened until 1st May so I had to lift my gear over it which is not a problem really! By the time my board was on the beach the wind had increased so I rigged my 5.75 again which actually proved perfect for the whole session! A nice easy launch being fairly calm behind a rock groyne and I was soon up and flying doing long 1.75 miles runs out beyond Wadgate post and the sun had come out making it really lovely, great to be back on the sea again! It was wind with tide so I decided not to risk heading off downwind just having fun blasting in the swell which was fairly big at times! I was managing the gybes OK and the only time I went in was when I hit a fish and I had the whole area to myself, with a winger arriving as I was packing up at 5! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10235737233943995]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20778/squiz/The%20Manor%20at%20Felixsrtowe Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20777/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe 14th, April 2026 - Tuesday 14th April - walk **** – Around Felixstowe including a picnic in the Spa Gardens – sunny with a cool onshore breeze. Mag gave the early morning walk a miss today, had a bit of a lay-in before heading for a quick shop at Lidl, while I did my exercises after breakfast in a sunny and warm back garden, the onshore breeze made it feel a bit cooler on the seafront, probably enough breeze for some foiling but I had to sort out hearing aids in the afternoon so could not go today, old age catches up with all of us in the end:) We were going to see our old friend, Mary early today but she rang saying she was under the weather sadly so I quickly packed a picnic and we headed down to Felixstowe seafront heading to the pier first, the sky was blue and it was pleasant enough for a walk along the prom ending up at our raised seat in the Spa gardens just past the theatre and was quickly joined by a robin, pigeons and a magpie! We had a lovely relaxing time and were treated to a large halo around the sun before we continued on through the gardens with loads bluebells of various colours and ended up at the steps at Jacobs Ladder. Then back to Specsavers for Mag to pick up two pairs of glasses and for me to sort out the hearing aids, can’t fault the service, nice staff too:) Then home for a cuppa and cake, Mag had to water the garden with the hose, we are in desperate need of some rain! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10235737233943995]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20777/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe Tue, 14 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20776/squiz/Felixstowe%20Ferry%20and%20The%20Grove%20Woods 13th, April 2026 - Monday 13th April - walks *** – The Ferry and The Grove – nice start then cloudy with light winds. Walk 1 – Felixstowe Ferry. The day started with very light winds, Mag had already set off for her walk down to Felixstowe prom so I decided to drive down to The Ferry to take some misty reflections of the boats on the River Deben arriving at 6.30 and was not disappointed:) I took both my cameras as you can get a variety of shots, one fishing boat was just leaving and I watched my favourite white fishing boat including the dog leave its mooring for a day’s fishing in near perfect conditions. The mist was still hanging low over the river but the sun was about to break from a bank of clouds making for some lovely pics once again. They looked ideal for the TV weather but once again they were not used, instead picking a dreadful HD pic of a fishing boat taken by someone else, the colours were just too much :( Still I enjoyed my time walking around the boatyard even if it was a tad on the chilly side! Once home I returned to warm up with the electric blanket and sort out my photos, I started my old laptop which is painfully slow so I actually went downstairs to get my new (secondhand) laptop which Mag has spent ages setting up and it worked like a dream, she is a star and my pics were sorted in a fraction of the time! Walk 2 – The Grove Woods, Felixstowe. Sadly the sun did not last long and it clouded over but the wind remained light but not very warm although we did manage to have a late breakfast in the back garden before both doing our exercises. I then made some yummy egg sandwiches for today’s picnic. As we were late setting off and the day was now pretty uninspiring and with Mag wanting some hazel twigs for the garden we drove to The Grove Wood for lunch in the small green, the bluebells of many colours were looking good and the wild garlic is coming. After a relaxing picnic we did a circuit of the lovely little wood before driving home via the seafront for another cuppa and Mag quickly knocking up a microwave cake with jam, we know how to live! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10235737233943995]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20776/squiz/Felixstowe%20Ferry%20and%20The%20Grove%20Woods Mon, 13 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20775/maker/Llanfairfechan 12th, April 2026 - Tired as foiled earlier but sand, sun and wind looked it so inviting I got 10m kite. Second time I have use it and this time was well powered. Loving it, think need to shorten back lines a bit. Cut session short as footstrap broke, otherwise lovely evening. Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20775/maker/Llanfairfechan Sun, 12 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20774/squiz/Levington 12th, April 2026 - Sunday 12th March – Windsurf **** River Orwell at Levington – mainly sunny with one shower. Foil – 19.50 knot max, 18.27 knot ave., 11.67 knot hour, 17.26 knot mile, 28.63 km., 14.39 knot alpha. Starboard Freeride 150 (LW) and a Evolution Freeride foil with a Tushingham Bolt 5.75 m. A good s to sw and sunshine was forecast today and sunshine, high tide was around 8 with low about 2.30 which would make it ideal for an open sea session around midday but I decided to give that a miss as the temperature is still only about 10 degrees and my hands are not brilliant so I took the easier option and headed over to Levington. I arrived at the marina fairly early around 9.15 and was pleased to see that the parking area is now mainly free of obstructions and there was still plenty of water to launch as the tide was dropping I know I would have the venue all to myself but being a Sunday the racing yachts were out starting their race in front of the marina, its always nice to sail with them:) I am giving the trailer a miss these days and am carrying my sails in the top box. The foil board was quickly set-up and as my wind meter needs a new battery I had to guess the wind strength but at a guess the onshore was gusting to 20 knots so rigged my 5.75m. I launched just after 9.30 straight into a shower, that wasn’t what I wanted as it briefly killed the wind but it quickly passed and the sun returned as did the wind and I had some cracking long runs from the corner down to Pin Mill, after about an hour and a half the wind dropped so I headed in for a snack and to take some pics of the racing yachts heading back from Felixstowe Docks to finish their race! The wind did pick up again but I decided to pack up, shower and head for home, having a lovely afternoon in our sunny back garden doing my exercises and having fruit bread with a cuppa outside with Mag who had been busy sorting out her plants, top day but I am looking forward to getting back out on the sea! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10235737233943995]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20774/squiz/Levington Sun, 12 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20773/maker/Llanfairfechan 12th, April 2026 - Maxed on 3.5m and overpowered a few times, think I need to sail even lower pressure in these strong winds as lower does help settle wing down. Only got about a third of footswaps, couldn't get comfy in gusts. Sailing a bit faster though according to GPS Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20773/maker/Llanfairfechan Sun, 12 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20772/maker/Llanfairfechan 11th, April 2026 - Dropping tide well onto sand so small chop for wind strength. Blustery with holes just about glided through, a surprise which direction gusts were from and how strong, offshore is rarely good here. Somehow I enjoyed it. Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20772/maker/Llanfairfechan Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20771/squiz/The%20Dip-Felixstowe 10th, April 2026 - Friday 10th April - walks **** – The Dip, Felixstowe – sunny. Another wonderful Maeva Friday, we love them so much! Decided to give the early walk a miss today as having Maeva for the day is pretty full on, I managed to do my exercises in the sunny back garden, a quick breakfast while Mag went to pick Maeva up, she arrived a vision in pink including a frilly tutu:) We had fun with puzzles, Mag read after making her a tent with a blanket while I packed a picnic to have in our little campervan. Once again we headed down to our small windsurf car park at The Dip for lunch and spotted a fellow weatherwatcher walk past her her famous dog Betty! We all love spending time in the van having lunch watching the world go by as 8/9 sea kayaks paddled past, although the sun was out it was a little chilly. After a game of Hungry Hippos she made us get out for a walk, she did the usual 100m on her bike, then Mag had to carry it as we walked past her favourite beach huts, down onto the beach to collect stones and have fun with some selfie’s before returning to the van and home for biscuit time with a cuppa – great day was had by all:) [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10235737233943995]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20771/squiz/The%20Dip-Felixstowe Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20770/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe 9th, April 2026 - Thursday 9th April - walks *** – Felixstowe Ferry and prom – sunny with light winds until late afternoon. Mag set off on her early morning walk as usual, I then checked the weather and saw the wind was very light so I headed out in the van and although way after sunrise the sun was still a lovely golden colour which made a nice pic! I ended up at my favourite Felixstowe Ferry to take some nice moody photos with a touch of mist. Home to sort out my pics, breakfast followed by my exercises in a sunny, warm back garden while Mag pots some more plants and sort her much loved compost! I then packed a quick picnic and we headed down to Felixstowe pier, being a school holiday the prom was heaving, there were also loads of families on the beach. We then headed to a nice quiet spot in the Spa Gardens just past the theatre and were entertained by a robin, a pigeon, a magpie and a rat:) It was a nice relaxing time before we headed up to Tesco for a couple of cream cakes which we enjoyed with a cuppa as the weather took a turn for the worse with it clouding over, the temperature dropping and the wind picking up! Then the sky cleared and we got a nice sunset so I drove down to the dock view point to catch it:) [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10235737233943995]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20770/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20769/maker/Llanfairfechan%20 9th, April 2026 - Took a while to get dialled in to X chop and holey wind, then went well with a few swell rides. Tried Pabs 1050 Style on his 90l and 5m wing. Felt similar get up to my 900, similar glide, better turn. Main difference was Silk dampened effects from X chop to give a smoother ride. Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20769/maker/Llanfairfechan%20 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20768/squiz/Bentley%20bluebell%20woods 8th, April 2026 - Wednesday 8th April - walks ***** – Bentley bluebell woods – sunny with light winds. The good weather continues with wall to wall sunshine with temperature reaching 25 degrees away from the coast but we decided to give the early walk a miss today, having a more relaxing start! Our plan today was to drive over to Bentley to have a walk in the bluebell wood which gave me time for breakfast and do my exercises in the sunny backgarden while Mag planted out her wall baskets with tomatoes and geraniums before I packed a picnic. You turn off just past Alton water on the Brantham road taking the quiet lane to park at Bentley Old Hall Lane to walk across farmland to the woods, a mix of conifers and beech. You enter the wood right where the large patch of bluebells are, just stunning with the sun shinning through the trees, so quiet too, Mag put on her bird song app and we heard a tree creeper but sadly did not see it! We find a nice spot to sit against an old tree trunk surrounded by bluebells to enjoy our picnic, a real pinch yourself moment! Well rested we do a large circuit of the woods where a lot of tree felling is taking place! Then back to the van, now down to T-shirts in the warm weather, we then take the route back to the A 12 passing a vibrant field of yellow rape and home for a welcome cuppa with a donut we just purchased from Lidl – another top day:) [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10235737233943995]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 5 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20768/squiz/Bentley%20bluebell%20woods Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:05:00 +0100