Friday 12th May - Windsurf ***** The River Stour at Wrabness – cloudy and windy.

Foil – 21.93 knot max, 19.92 knot ave (PB), 15.46 knot hour (PB), 18.66 knot mile (PB), 58.32 km., 15.97 knot alpha.

Also, PB’s for 500m, 250m, 100m and 10 sec :)

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

With the wind from the north meaning the Stour is the only option but with high water at 5.51 it was a bit late for a sail really, also loads of rain was forecast luckily, we only had some light rain in the morning and had stopped by midday. So, my plan was to do my exercises, then make up my mind, it was still gloomy and cool but there were 20 knots of breeze so Mag packed lunch and we headed over to Wrabness, arriving around 1.30 being the first to park in the lane, sadly the fly tippers had been again with a hoover and small electric fire, there are idiots everywhere! After the rain it was pretty muddy and I went to check the conditions, the tide was still fairly low but it was blowing 20 knots and looking windier in the middle of the river. I set up my foil and took a chance with my 5.2, one day I will rig the right sail as it proved pretty windy, pushing 30 knots at times and being from the north fairly bumpy and I could have used 4.7 or maybe even 4.2! I had lunch with Mag in the van before launching at 2.30 with just a little further to walk than usual but no problem and was soon up and flying wishing I had a smaller sail but I lasted 3 hours so it must have been OK:) With the wind from the north you could sail long but challenging runs around 4 miles from past Wrabness and up to Mistley Quay. It was a beat down river but I had some really fast runs back, pushing as hard as I dare in the lumpy conditions, in fact I was only one more good run off getting a 20 average, breaking 20 5 times and very nearly breaking 22 knots max:) I was well pleased to get a PB mile again with 5 over 17 knots all in front of the Wrabness beach huts where the water was a little smoother. My last run was up to Mistley Quay but I hit the mud on the way back and my sail popped off the top of my mast so I had to sail ashore to re-rig which did not take long. Getting well knackered now it was time to call time on another top session on the Stour, the only thing missing was some sunshine. Back to the van to warm up with a cuppa and cake and hear about Mags walk before the 26 mile drive home. Sunny and breezy tomorrow but the tides too late on the Stour for a trip from Felixstowe I think and the wind the wrong direction for most venues so might have to give it a miss?

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