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Saturday 4th – windsurf *** The Dip - Felixstowe – sunny periods.

F2 Xantos 295 with Tushingham Lightning 8.5 and 44 cm fin.

24.02 knot max., 22.29 knot ave., 14.70 knot hour, 21.77 knot mile, 47.50 km., 14.96 knot alpha.

An unexpected sail this afternoon as not much forecast :) Our van has been in the body shop having some work done and was supposed to be finished yesterday but they didn’t finish but was not too disappointed as our son Rob with partner Hannah and the lovely Arlo are down for the weekend so we are having loads of fun playing with him, he is an absolute star:) A windsurfing friend, Peter Goodchild came around for a catch up then went for a walk with the family and lunch. Then in the afternoon with Rob and Hannah out on our bikes and Arlo in bed I checked the local weather station and webcams. The wind was closing in on 15 knots but I couldn’t get my kit to the beach:( Then I made a quick call to Neil Hurrell who had just arrived at The Dip and he very kindly agreed to come and get me:) It wasn’t ideal as the tide was approaching high meaning wind and tide so we decided to rig big, 8.5 on my Xantos 295 with a big fin. The combination worked fine, being slightly under at times not being helped by the tide and the very lumpy sea, so going fast was challenging! I beat up towards kite beach I had some OK long runs a mile and a half out to sea. Gybing with a big rig is not ideal on the Xantos and the wind went light near the shore with confused chop but there where some big waves if you were lucky out and I got some cracking gybes on them a couple of times:) I was out non-stop for 1 hour 40 minutes, not so sunny than of late but still warm. Neil had fun with his 8.2, while David Coles went for a cruise on his formula kit and Simon Jam and his mate were having foiling fun on dedicated foiling boards while using small rigs:) It looks good, a bit slow but as you ride above the messy sea it is much better on your legs once you get the hang of keeping the board flying! A few went out at The Manor and had a good sail too. Simon Jam 4m RDM was jammed solid and no matter how hard six of us tried it wouldn’t budge!!! I hope he gets if sorted. With the wind easing we pack up and Neil takes me home for delicious homemade Sheppard’s Pie then a top time with Arlo. I am then very shocked to receive an early birthday present from the whole family, I am 65 on October 6th, it was a very smart GW – 60 (a gps watch) and very smart it looks too, can’t wait to get it up and running:) A big thank-you to son Rob with a little help from Patrick Depoorter for sorting it out:) Next week is looking promising for some wind. Fingers crossed I get our van back soon and my replacement North Silver Series boom arrives, that is the third North boom I have broken so am not overly keen on using them but carbon booms are just so much money!

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