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/20888/maker/Llanfairfechan%20 18th, June 2026 - Sunny morning, rainy afternoon, went in the evening but only lasted 10 mins before wind dropped and too shallow to restart in dropping tide. Pleased 950 flew in such light breeze with 4.5m. Rating: 2 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20888/maker/Llanfairfechan%20 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20887/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe 18th, June 2026 - Thursday 18th June - walks **** – Around Felixstowe – sunny periods and warm until the sea fog and drizzle! Walk 1 – Early Felixstowe prom. I joined Mag on her early morning prom walk leaving home at 6 taking both my cameras but it was pleasant enough if not very inspiring taking my first pics at Jacobs Ladder and some more of the lovely poppies in the Spa Gardens near the Pram walk! Then home to sort out my photos with a cuppa before having breakfast in the garden with Mag before I do my exercises and it’s pretty warm now while Mag potters dead heading and tying things back! Walk 2 – Jacobs Ladder to the Deben for a picnic :) Then Mag had the idea we take lunch and walk from Jacobs Ladder, so we pack some crackers and brie with a flask and leave home at one. We drive down to Jacobs Ladder and walk down the steep steps to the beach and are greeted by the most amazing blue sky with some wispy clouds, just stunning, warm on the coast too with a light onshore breeze. Our aim was to walk to The Dip to join up all this week’s walks along the prom, after a short section of beach, up and down some steps we reach the next section of concrete prom with its rows of beach huts, nice to see a few actually being used! The tide was fairly high so there was note too many places to sit for lunch so we continued out onto the shingle spit opposite the golf course for our picnic! It was very pleasant sitting out to sea, several yachts about too, then after lunch the breeze picked up and the temperature dropped a little so it was time to head back. We took the steps up to the cliff top car park and walked back along the top just as the sea fog rolled in, can’t believe how quickly the blue sky disappeared! PS - I was chuffed to get a foggy pic on BBC's Look East today and went down to Felixstowe Ferry to watch the sunset! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20887/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20886/maker/Llanfairfechan 17th, June 2026 - Wind very up and down, first two short goes ended with drifting back in. Wind picked up well for third go and chance to use new mast and fuse which finally turned up. Tired after long wait for wind but good workout for new gear. Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20886/maker/Llanfairfechan Wed, 17 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20885/squiz/The%20Manor%20at%20Felixsrtowe 17th, June 2026 - Wednesday 17th June – Windsurf **** The Manor at Felixstowe – cloudy first thing then sunny. Foil – 17.08 knot max, 15.72 knot ave., 10.41 knot hour, 15.10 knot mile, 32.28 km., 12.43 knot alpha. Starboard Freeride 150 and a Tushingham Bolt 6.50. Cracking forecast for today a cloudy start with very light rain then sunny with 20 knots of wind from the SW. I was keen to get out on the water way before high water just past 2 so drove down to The Manor car park at nine to drop Mag off for her morning walk and went to park in Squiz Lane and was setting up my foil board as Mag approached along the beach. I waved her goodbye as the Stenna Fery left the Orwell and with maybe 15 knots of wind I rigged my 6.50 which proved OK for today’s session! The wind was a fraction off when I launched just before ten and soon found the wind and did a couple of long two mile runs out to sea, I then decided to have a run up the coast as it was wind with tide so getting back would be no problem! I had a lovely two broad run down to the Fludyers before turning and heading in gybing in front of The Hut before continuing so I was opposite The Dip but I didn’t sail to the shore as I was getting tired, maybe old age is creeping up and it is defiantly a lot rougher down that way so started the beat back as the wind picked up to 20 knots. Getting back was no problem but I was pleased to get away from the area between The Fludyers and the pier as it was getting lumpy, it was much smoother at The Manor end. I decided to head ashore for a snack and debate whether I would go out again which meant rigging another sail and with the tide getting high I decided to call it a day, shame really as the sun had just come out, still I had a good challenging couple of hours! Home by 12.30, sort out a few pics and have lunch in the garden with Mag before doing my exercises in the sunshine! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20885/squiz/The%20Manor%20at%20Felixsrtowe Wed, 17 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20884/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe 16th, June 2026 - Tuesday 16th June - walks **** – Around Felixstowe – sunny periods and warm! Walk 1 – Early Felixstowe prom. As it was a lovely start to the day here in Felixstowe I joined Mag on her early morning Felixstowe prom walk but we left a little later around 6.40. It’s always the best time of day to be out and about as we made our way to the end of the prom at The Manor taking a few pics to send to the TV weather and home to sort out my pics in bed with a cuppa. Then up to have breakfast in our little garden surrounded by a mass of blooms courtesy of Maggie and the bees and butterflies are loving it! I then did my exercises in the very warm garden while taking a few pics when a Hummingbird Moth paid a visit. I was then chuffed to get a pic both taken in our garden on the telly, one on the BBC and one on ITV :) Walk 2 – Afternoon prom with ice cream :) Mag and I then had lunch in the garden before we walked round to have a cuppa with our old friend Mary before we walked down to the prom past Harvest house when Mag suggested we have an ice cream and enjoyed eating them on the beach which was very pleasant, I even had a doze while Mag did some word games on her phone before we headed for home for a cuppa, there is a chance of a windsurf foil tomorrow, fingers crossed the wind plays ball! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20884/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe Tue, 16 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20883/maker/Llanfairfechan 16th, June 2026 - Good wind disappeared as I launched and despite putting stab on backwards again sailed out but in light winds drifted back. Wind retuned and nice rides on surprise swells until it disappeared again.. Funny day with some very good bits. Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20883/maker/Llanfairfechan Tue, 16 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20882/squiz/Landguard%20Nature%20Reserve 15th, June 2026 - Monday 15th June - walks *** – Landguard Nature Reserve circuit – sunny start then clouding over with a cool breeze! Mag went for her early morning prom walk and once again I slept right through it but when she returned I decided to have a drive round at 6.30 to take a few weather pics as it was nice and sunny with a light breeze. I ended up at the cliff top car as there are loads of poppies at the moment and had a walk out onto the shingle bar before returning home to sort out the photos. After breakfast I started my exercises in the back garden but it had now clouded over and when we got a few spots of rain I came indoors, not overly warm either:( Mag packed todays picnic, yummy egg sandwiches and as we had to do a big Lidl shop to drove down to have a walk through Landguard Nature Reserve, it was a tad on the gloomy side and with a breeze from the east I could have done with my fleece on! Wildlife was a little thin on the ground just the odd rabbit and a few linnets and pipits. We reached the Orwell and walked out onto the small wooden pier to watch a container ship being helped onto its berth by three tugs and the yellow Harwich foot came ashore. We continued along the Orwell and found a spot sheltered from the breeze behind the sea wall for lunch and watch a small boat working on the channel bouys and there was several yachts out. We then walked back across the reserve away from the beach where it was a little warmer, shop and home for a cuppa and cake:) The wind picked up late afternoon enough to foil but it was way too late for me to be bothered, fingers crossed we get some wind on Wednesday! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20882/squiz/Landguard%20Nature%20Reserve Mon, 15 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20881/squiz/The%20Dip%20to%20the%20Deben 14th, June 2026 - Sunday 14th June - walk **** – The Dip to the Deben – sunny start then cloudy! Mag did her early morning walk along Felixstowe prom and I didn’t even stir, certainly the best part of the day with wall to wall sunshine with a light offshore breeze, she said there was a yacht anchored close to the shore near the Spa Theatre so I had a drive down to take a few pics, in fact it was there all day! We enjoyed a lovely morning at home enjoying the peace and quiet, after breakfast I did my exercises in the back garden before packing a picnic. We headed out at midday, first stop was to fill the van up with diesel, the price is slowly dropping, we then had a video call from our son in Devon who gave our Grandson Arlo his new bike we bought for him recently he was suitably surprised and very pleased, we got some video later in the afternoon of him riding it, he can’t wait to get on some forest trails! Mag and I then continued to The Dip, parking at our windsurf car park, it had clouded over now but the wind was still light and nice and mild making it ideal for a walk along the prom to our picnic spot by the entrance to the Deben. There was some container ships anchored up far out and a small survey ship working up and down the coast but not a yacht in sight! We enjoyed a relaxing lunch with not many people about mainly dog walkers out and about many taking a dip as the tide dropped; the only thing to disturb the peace and quiet was a helicopter flying past! We then walked back along the beach and it was nice to see families on the beach playing football and out on paddle boards! It was then home for a cuppa followed by tea in the back garden – top day! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20881/squiz/The%20Dip%20to%20the%20Deben Sun, 14 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20880/squiz/Levington 13th, June 2026 - Saturday 13th June – Windsurf *** River Orwell at Levington – sunny periods. Foil – 18.93 knot max, 17.45 knot ave., 8.99 knot hour, 15.21 knot mile, 36.84 km., 13.71 knot alpha. Starboard Freeride 150 and a Tushingham Bolt 5.75. A good forecast today with the wind starting off west then turning more north with sunny periods so I decided to head over to Levington early arriving at the marina just after 8. The wind was probably wnw a tad off but with white water down the middle I quickly set-up my foil board and rigged my 5.75 which proved OK for most of the session although a little up and down at times! On the water at nine I was having some good runs in front of the marina, a bit of a swell running down the middle of the river but fairly smooth at the side which made gybing nice! I managed a few runs down towards the docks great to be out with loads of yachts and had great fun sailing as close to their sterns as possible getting loads of waves and nice being out in the sunshine. I then decided to beat back up river a little way and several racing yachts were out getting ready for the off and it was brilliant sailing in the middle of them, A couple of old barges sailed up and with the wind turning patchy I decided to call it a day and return to the van for a snack and take a few pics of the yachts keeled right over with the crew sitting on the side of the boats, great to watch:) Then pack up, shower and I was home by 12.30, so after sending a few pics to the TV weather I had lunch in the sunny back garden with Mag before we walked up the town and down to the seafront before returning home for a cuppa and cake, nice day:) PS - was chuffed to get a pic of last nights sunset at Felixstowe Dock view point on the BBC National weather forecast:) [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20880/squiz/Levington Sat, 13 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20879/alistair/Llanrhystud 12th, June 2026 - Fun session though still a bit out of practice Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20879/alistair/Llanrhystud Fri, 12 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20878/maker/Llanfairfechan 13th, June 2026 - Messy sea and gusty in this direction, and good to see foil is stable in challenging conditions Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20878/maker/Llanfairfechan Sat, 13 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20877/maker/Llanfairfechan%20 12th, June 2026 - Tried John's 65l board. A lot less windy than it looked so found it hard to get on smaller board. Changed up to 4.5m and much better. Found smaller board more responsive but could not get as balanced with foil as on bigger board. Tired after earlier session. Don't think gain in responsiveness is worth the extra challenge in light winds if one board quiver. Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20877/maker/Llanfairfechan%20 Fri, 12 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20876/squiz/Holywells%20Park%2C%20Ipswich 12th, June 2026 - Friday 12th June - walk **** – Holywells Park in Ipswich – sunny periods and much warmer! Gave the early morning walk with Mag a miss today even though the weather has improved being much milder now with sunny periods! So while Mag picked up Maeva I packed the usual picnic and she arrived full of beans around eleven with a selection of artwork she wanted to show me and her large make-up box:) Mag went up into the loft to get some kids books and I helped her up there, she was great on the ladder too with a little help from me. She then chose a large selection of toys to take down stairs, most of which ended up in the van for today’s adventure :) The destination today was the lovely Holywells Park in Ipswich, leaving Felixstowe just before midday. We tried to park by Ipswich waterfront first for a picnic in the van but there was no parking spots so we park at our usual spot at the rear of the park just off Landseer Road. Maeva was happy to ride in the biggy as we followed the stream to the main park; the path was muddy in places due to the large amount of rain of late! We did the circuit of the park first through the tree spotting the odd squirrel, we did a circuit of the throne room using all the stepping stone seats before reaching the old conservatory near the stables before going down the steps towards the small lakes to the new funky seat where the ducks and a family of geese were waiting to be fed which we did while eating our picnic lunch, the birds were so tame coming right under our feet! It was then over the wooden bridge leading to the large kids adventure playground and had ago on loads of things with the swings still being Maevas favourite! We then walked back to the van and took the scenic route via Levington home for a welcome cuppa with a cow biscuit, another top Maeva Friday, great fun was had by all:) I was surprised that Thomas Schaafernaker used one of my pics I took yesterday on the BBC:) [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20876/squiz/Holywells%20Park%2C%20Ipswich Fri, 12 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20875/maker/Llanfairfechan 12th, June 2026 - Some good rides off Pen-Y-Clip, made my way back upwind early as getting windier with too strong blustery gusts. Hard to do footswaps in gusts and chop, need more control and speed but pleased overall. Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20875/maker/Llanfairfechan Fri, 12 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20874/maker/Llanfairfechan 11th, June 2026 - Windier than expected, could have been on 3.5m at times. Found a few swells off Pen-Y-clip. Getting the hang of AFS foils now, stable, smooth and turn well. 750 has good enough bottom end and feels it will go much faster than I can. Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20874/maker/Llanfairfechan Thu, 11 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100