Monday 23rd September  – Windsurf **** River Orwell at Levington –  sunny periods.

Foil – 19.71  knot max, 18.38 knot ave, 12.00  knot hour, 17.45 knot mile, 79.28 km (year PB)., 15.40 knot alpha. 

Starboard Freeride 150 and a Evolution Freeride foil with a Tushingham Storm 6.5.

Having caught little Maeva’s cold I didn’t want anything too challenging today so decided to head over to Levington to make the most of the late afternoon high tide which left me free to do my exercises before breakfast and set up my new camera as my old one sadly gave up yesterday, it has been well loved and much used! I arrived at the marina just after midday and reversed into the parking spot making it easier to leave as a few wingers were coming. The sw wind didn’t look overly strong so after setting up my foil board, I decided to give the 85cm mast its first run out and it went ok and didn’t breach once. I waded into deep water and did a couple of tacks just to make sure I was not going to hit my foil and the wind was a little patchy but I did get up and flying. There seemed more wind on the corner so had a few runs there before the wind was strong enough for me to venture up towards Pin Mill, as always there are holes in the wind, sometimes you could fly the while 2.50 mil run while other times you would come off the foil buts that’s river sailing for you. I must have been out an hour before 4 wingers arrived but for the most part I could keep out of the way ans enjoyed the long runs in fairly smooth water and for the most part sunshine:) Got some OK gybes and a good set of mile speeds so a good session and I missed sailing 50 miles by a whisker! How I was knackered so decided to call it a day as the wingers had also called it a day. While packing up I noticed my front nearside tire was getting flat, I was sorting out the jack when Ian came over with his electric pump which inflated it enough to get me home, thanks for the help Ian, much appreciated.
I got home too late to send any pics to the TV weather but was surprised when Chris Page on ITV’s About Anglia used on I sent in on Saturday of our lovely walk along the Orwell:) 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10228505222308224