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squiz
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Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3081
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2nd October 2018
Windsurfing: West Mersea Wind Direction: WNW Wind Stength: 15/25 Surf / Sea State: river chop Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny periods Max Speed: 29.21 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 51.80 (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)
Tuesday 2nd October – windsurf ***** West Mersea – sunny periods.
F2 Xantos 295 with Tushingham Lightning 7m and 38 fin.
29.21 knot max (spot PB )., 26.27 knot ave 9 Spot PB ) ., 17.92 knot hour (
Year and spot PB ), 22.24 knot mile, 96 km., 18.10 knot alpha .
Today was always going to be a bit of a chance wind to 20 knots dropping
during the day, also WNW maybe even NW, cross off at West Mersea, also we
were starting off at low water and sailing the tide in. With so many if’s
a couple of Felixstowe sailors Andy and Swainy called off and sadly missed
a treat with winds in excess of 25 knots in the end and launching at low
water is no problem, in fact it’s better as the sea is smoother:) Mag and
I arrived at 10.30 after getting held up in road works in Colchester as two
locals were rigging up at the windsurfing hut. We parked up on the green
for only £3 a day, I walked to the beach to check the wind but being
slightly off it was difficult to gauge especially as the water was mainly
free from white water. I then walked up to the locals to have a chat, they
were rigging 7m as they had had a good ay yesterday with this kit and they
hoped the wind would build. Back at the van I took off the bigger Xantos
295 (133lt) put my wetsuit on and walked my board the 200m to the water
which was easy along a shingle spit and it was definitely windier here. My
first thought was 8.5, then 7.8 but finally rigged my favourite 7m, put on
my GW-60 (GPS), giving it another chance as it’s been playing. My plan
today was stay near the launch area and go for a fast hour as I got my
years best on my last visit. At a guess the wind was slightly North of West
– WNW and a bit patchy but then again, the wind is coming off the land
from towards Tollesbury. The sea is definitely smoother at low water and
there were some top gusts and I got my best speeds 28/29 knots but I
couldn’t hold the speed over 10 seconds:( It was also a good day for
gybing especially in the flatter water near each beach. I had to stop after
the first run to adjust the boom/lines and had a few lulls but in the end
was pleased with a 17.92 knot hour, a season best:) With the hour out of
the way I then decided to explore so beat up to Bradwell Power Station,
landing to take pics and found some lovely smooth water over by the small
island leading to West Mersea Quay. As the local said he had sailed up to
Radio Caroline moored a couple of miles up the Blackwater so I decided to
take a look. The wind had picked up a notch or two and the locals had gone
ashore to change down but the 7m was great and although the 282 might have
been better the 295 handled the conditions well:) As usual there was steep
chop heading upriver but I made it to the old lightship and landed directly
opposite all be it on a muddy bank nearly four miles from my starting
point! After taking some more pics I headed over to Tollesbury Fleet in
search of some flat water. Although I found the flat water the wind was not
strong enough for fast speeds. I had checked out the speed stats for West
Mersea and the top speeds have been achieved by Matin Byford sailing in the
narrow channel opposite West Mersea Quay but I checked it out but was
nervous of sailing up there as a lot of moored boats, I should have been
braver as I later discovered Martin had been sailing up there today!
Perhaps the next windy day, I will have to get together with Martin so he
can show me the ropes:) By now the wind had swung a bit more off leaving a
shadow near the beach so time to head back. I still had several runs trying
for 100 km. but the wind was now very patchy so I decided to call it a day.
Felixstowe sailor Mark Smalling had been sailing but with 8.5 which must
have been a real handful at times, he helped me carry my kit back to the
van having been away for four hours nearly non-stop making it a 5-star day,
great fun. After a later lunch, chat and pack up Mag and I then go for a
couple of mile walk along the beach to the point by the broad walk looking
particularly lovely especially when the sun came out from behind some
impressive clouds! We then had a cuppa at the van and headed for home, on
reaching Colchester we went the Manningtree way to avoid the horrible A12
and got home hassle free:)
Photo Gallery Here
MK Booms here
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