Sunday 8th January - Windsurf **** River Orwell at Levington – sunny periods.

Foil – 20.37 knot max, 18.64 knot ave., 12.74 knot hour, 16.76 knot mile, 44.00 km., 16.94 knot alpha. (PB)

Starboard Freeride 150 and a Evolution Freeride foil with a Tushingham Vulcan 6 and Storm 5.2.

I didn’t go out yesterday as it was supposed to be 30/40 mph winds and rain, both of which did not materialize so I was keen to give it a go today especially as it started off sunny:) It was a good tide on the River Orwell with high being just before one, so headed down to the marina around 10.30 dropping Mag off on the way for her walk. I put my winter wetsuit on at home getting Mag to zip me in as getting fed-up walking around the marina looking for someone to zip me in. Loads of wind and water so quickly set up my foil and took a chance with 6m, by the time I was ready to launch to be honest my 5.2 would have been OK. I was OK with the bigger sail not pushing things too hard as sadly I have an issue with my Starboard fuselage where the tail has slightly twisted for some reason but it seemed sail reasonably. I was doing some nice long runs from the corner up towards Pin Mill in lovely smooth water with lots of sunshine, not in the slightest bit cold with loads of dinghies racing at Woolverstone. Gybing was going well until I dropped one and put my hand through my sail:( The sail dose not owe me anything as it was given to me by Craig Hurrell who won it at Alton water many many years ago! So, if anyone has an old Tushigham 6m they are not using please message me. I continued sailing with a big hole and felt more comfortable as I had dropped half a metre sail size! I then decided to head ashore and rig my 5.2 and had another hour getting my best speed and best ever alpha, another step closer to 17 knot one :) So a good session on the Orwell, just one plus the odd yacht and loads of waders, shame about the hole in the sail and the bent fuselage:(

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