Team East (Engl-E, Great Britain) - 2017-08-04
Sailor 2 Second Peak (Kts)5 x 10 Second Average (Kts)1 Hour (Kts)Alpha Racing 500m (Kts)Nautical Mile (Kts)Distance Travelled (km)
Stephen Squirrell
26.12(D)
24.85(D)
15.38(D)
15.13(D)
22.58(D)
111.24(D)
Ian Richards
Peter Cutts
Lance Newbery
Ben Tilston
Hotdog
Jamie Bore
Tris Haskins
Rik Jones
benno
Will Trossell
Steve Carter
Trollope
Whitey
plum
matty
Ant
Venga Boy
tccambs
Killer Miller
Alex Lewin
Lewis Limm
Average
Stephen Squirrell (34966km):
2455 days ago
6 categories

Friday 4th August – windsurf ***** Levington – sunny :)

 

26.14 kt. max., 24.85 kt. ave., 15.37 kt hr., 22.38 kt. mile, 111.2 km., 15.12 kt alpha.

 

After yesterday’s tiring but fun speed session at Southend todays plan was to meet up with Neil and Craig Hurrell at Point Clear early as the high tide was mid-morning. I was up at six, checked Landguard weather station and the wind was from the west at 15kts not a great direction for Point Clear with West Mersea being better. I texted Neil and he rang back saying they were still going to Point Clear, I said that W. Mersea might be better? After yesterday’s 150-mile trip and with the wind dropping during the day I decided to give Essex a miss and go to Levington. I checked The Fludgers first but it was well off so off to the Orwell, at the marina the barrier was closed :( I had to wait 20 minutes for someone to open it! I parked right by the marina entrance but it didn’t look very windy! With 15kts on the gauge I rigged the big freeride kit and was on the water at 7.10:)

It was a patchy start with a few non-planning runs the wind kicked in and I soon recorded 26 kts which was a bit of a surprise but the water hadn’t chopped up. West is probably the best direction for Levingon as you can sail the two miles down to Felixtowe docks, a beat down and a nice reach back running down the swell with it only chopping up on the corner! It was full on at times with the 8.5 needing more downhaul in wind gusting to nearly 25kts! It was windy enough to plan most of the time flying past the yachts and came in after a couple of hours having covered 26n/miles to discover a four-inch tear in my sail, that’s Tushingham monofilm for you:(

I had a snack and was going to pack up but it was such a nice day I taped the sail and carried on just doing run after run down to the docks seeing a seal several times while gybing by the last berth by the docks:) The water conditions improved even more during slack water and it was super smooth and I did the dock run in 16 times in total and soon passed 50 miles! With the tide now turned and the wind now a bit up and down I decided to beat up the river for a while so I could get back to the van.

I called it a day after over 5 hours on the water covering a year’s best 111 km !!! probably being my best ever session on the River Orwell at Levington. I am now completely knackered and with no wind forecast for several days it’s time for a rest and to enjoy our new Grandson who is coming to Felixstowe for the first time this weekend:)

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/stephen.squirrell.1/media_set?set=a.10211330443869497.1073741893.1012660562&type=3

 

 

 

 



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