Team East (Engl-E, Great Britain) - 2017-10-21
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
31.03(D)
28.86(D)
7.39(D)
16.15(D)
19.2(D)
22.28(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):
2349 days ago
6 categories

Saturday 21st October – windsurfing **** Point Clear – sunny and windy

 

31.27 kt. max, 28.86 kt. ave., 7.39 kt. hr., 19.20 kt mile, 22.30 km., 16.15 kt. alpha.

 

With Storm Brian coming with winds supposed to be gusting to 50 mph Point Clear with a good tide was the safest option and a good selection of Felixstowe sailors made the trip including Craig Hurrell, Ian Clarke, Simon Jam and Roger Vickers who had a good sail here yesterday on 6.5:) Our plan was to pack the van for a night away as the wind is supposed to turn west and ease for Sunday making Bradfield the venue. With the van ready we left Felixstowe at 9.45 and headed to Essex spotting Craig at the Toys R Us round about! After stopping for a paper and milk we arrived at the green with a few windsurfers already there and Roger rigging 6.5 but on checking the gauge I had 30 knots on the beach and 40 on the sea wall so I we thought that Roger might be being a little optimistic with his sail choice! I was hoping to us my Fanatic Falcon 80 and rig two sails a 5.8 and my 5.2 but as I broke my boom the other week I could only rig one so went with the 5.8. Craig had rigged 5m and soon he was out on the water with Roger on his 6.5 and if anything, the wind had eased making it hard for the many who had rigged between 4 and 5 m! From the angle people were sailing from the shingle spit to East Mersea I soon realised there was too much south in it for the lagoon to work:( So I decided against the 80 and went for my favourite 282 and headed out just clearing the rock groyne by the moored fishing boat and enjoyed two great runs over to East Mersea in a lovely rolling swell but the wind had picked up so decided to give the lagoon a try before the tide breached. I walked over a small section of shingle bank by the flattest part of the lagoon but also the place with the least wind! By sailing tight to the bank and then bearing down broad at the bottom of the lagoon I found an area where you could sail fast down the small swell before hitting the confused chop at the bottom where the channel bears off to the right and was pleased to hit 31 knots. It was looking promising for a 30 kt ave but I only hit 30 once more and could only get 28 kt. ten seconds. A rain shower killed the wind for a while and I had to sheltered under my sail. I was joined in the lagoon by Craig, Roger and blast from the past Peter Rowe whose son Max was doing some wild freestyle:) As the tide got higher the whole lagoon was a mess of chop decided to call it a day and had an interesting ride back ending up on the beach by the huge shell! Lots of sailors were enjoying the waves sailing safely close to the shore nicely powered with 4/5 sails, I would have joined them but couldn’t be bothered to rig my 4.7 so packed up at a similar time that most called it a day! This is a nice venue offering the chance of some flat water and waves being safe too with the winds onshore:) With most sailors now gone Mag and I had a blustery walk along the seawall in the sunshine and back through the busy caravan, it’s half term and loads of kids were having fun on four wheeled bikes. Mag took my pic in a huge deckchair too and we walked back to the van in even stronger winds! Cuppa and cake time and then we set off for Bradfield which is further away than you think! At the Bradfield carpark we had to wait an hour for a dog walker to leave before we could park up for the night and Mag then soon had a delicious lasagne ready. Finger crossed that the wind goes west or better still north of west for tomorrow and eases to 25 knots! I think a few are coming tomorrow, could be OK if the rain has gone!

 

 

 https://www.facebook.com/stephen.squirrell.1/media_set?set=a.10211650611433486.1073741898.1012660562&type=3



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