Team East (Engl-E, Great Britain) - 2018-06-29
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
24.6(D)
23.76(D)
12.32(D)
13.57(D)
21.13(D)
56.22(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):
2100 days ago
6 categories

Friday 29th June – windsurf ***** The Dip, Felixstowe.  sunny and hot :)

 

F2 Xantos 295 with Tushingham Lightning 7.8

24.80 knot max., 23.75 knot ave., 12.31 knot hour, 21.12 knot mile, 56.20 km., 13.56 knot alpha

 

It’s the third day in a row for these East Coast winds and no let up in sight! With Neil and Craig Hurrell coming down I headed down earlier than the last two days with the tide still coming in. The wind was up and down but the sea was still smooth, lightweight Michael Galbraith was going OK with 6.2 but the Hurrells were struggling with 7’s and changed up to 8’s and Roger Vickers didn’t seem to get planning with 7.5:( I was in no hurry to rig but after a chat I decided to take a chance with 7.8 on the Xantos 295 at 133 litres with the aim of doing a downwinder to Landguard. My plan was to sail down with the tide which hopefully would turn and help me back. I was just heading out when Craig said he had switched back to 7m so I would have a run out to check the conditions? It appeared OK and I was soon flying downwind smoothing out the big sea and whizzing past the yachts:) I did three 2-mile runs followed by a shorter run into the beach just short of the River Orwell and the 7-mile run took no time at all, the beat back would be more challenging! With the tide now high the sea was now very big with a large shore dump, also a huge container ship, tug escorted was just leaving so I didn’t want to get too close to that! Also, the shipping channel is fairly close to the shore here which means several shorter legs to clear the pier. The wind was fresh but because I was beating the sail was OK but because I was going fairly slow I was never going fast enough to gybe properly because if you bared off you went too fast for the big sea which lead to several water starts! It was such fun though being out all by yourself in a huge sea on the limit and I made it back safely covering nearly 20 miles! Mag had just walked down so we sat with Linda Hurrell and had a yummy mackerel salad :) Craig had to leave as he is going surfing in Devon and then Neil went out again so I joined him in seas that had calmed down. The wind in places was marginal especially in close but nice to be out in the warm sunshine but was not getting any good speeds as the sea was still messy. The wind then strengthened was after my fastest couple of runs I decided to call it a day just as the evening crew were arriving for a flatter water session! But I have all ready sailed 191 km in three days and have to pace my self for the weekend! Not sure about tomorrow with winds turning ENE and with high at about 2 the sea could get big with a dump so might try the River Stour at Bradfield but am not sure at the moment?

 [url=https://www.facebook.com/stephen.squirrell.1/media_set?set=a.10213754322664952.1073741913.1012660562&type=3]Photo Gallery Here[/url]

 

 



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