Team East (Engl-E, Great Britain) - 2021-02-17
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
20.45(D)
18.78(D)
12.95(D)
13(D)
18.08(D)
35.06(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):
1136 days ago

Wednesday 17th February - Windsurf **** - River Orwell at Nacton Shore – cloudy.

 

Foil – 20.54 knot max, 18.78 knot ave (spot PB)., 12.95 knot hour (PB), 18.07 knot mile (PB), 39.00 km.,13.00 knot alpha.

 

Exocet RF AST 91 with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Lightning 7m.

 

With a few issues with my back, joints and hands not helped by the cold weather I did not fancy an open sea session at The Manor with the water temperature only 5 degrees and with my favourite go to winter venue Levington Marina still closed for windsurfing I headed over to Nacton Shores again. The marina is reviewing things next week after Boris makes another statement when he is supposed to be lifting a few restrictions hopefully as the country has done a wonderful job with the vaccinations. With high water at Ipswich at 3.35 pm. I had the morning at home doing my exercises and missed the best weather with the sun even managing to come out! Then around mid-day after putting my big Xantos on the van roof just in case it was windy enough for a fin and drove the 8 miles to the car park which was full being half term did not help as this is a popular spot despite the overcast skies with a little fine rain! Several people left and I managed to get my parking spot by the gate, the closest to the water and walked down to the river to check the conditions. The tide was fairly high with a good onshore breeze, it’s always hard to judge there as it is gusty here because of the trees on the far bank but I set up my foil board and took a chance with my favourite foil sail, the 7m Lightning good for winds from 15 to 25 knots:) I had to walk out about 100m to find deep enough water and after a couple of tacks I was soon heading down river towards Levington Marina. I was up and flying as soon as I passed the tree line on the far bank and was pretty much in the air for the best part of two hours. I had the whole of the River Orwell to myself, just love the solitude here with only a couple of yachts out and the smelly Border Force boat again. The SW wind is perfect here to do long two mile runs in fairly flat water never being far from the launch bank making it a lovely safe winter venue:) I felt pretty comfortable for most of the session only going in once on my last run back and boy the water was heart stopping cold and I defiantly made the right decision coming here as you can sail much longer without getting cold! In the end I had 5 runs past the marina and was pleased with several PB’s including my best ever n/mile with 9 over 14 knots, also my best foil hour of 12.95 plus some OK alphas even though I was not pushing it because of the cold and it is always nice to get over 20 knots on the Slingshot foil! So, can’t fault the session and would have given it 5 stars if the sun had come out! I packed up trying to avoid the dog crap before stopping up the lane to take some pics of the lovely snowdrops on the entrance to Broke Hall estate, just beautiful:) Some really mild weather breezy weather coming for the weekend, shame the tides for the river are not great!

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10221012826083001

 

http://mkwindsurfing.co.uk/booms

 

https://www.77sports.co.uk/

 

 



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