Owner:
mas
Member
Member#: 8972 Location: Registered: 29-06-2010 Diary Entries: 3
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20th July 2019
Windsurfing: Bradfield Wind Direction: WNW Wind Stength: F2 - F4 Surf / Sea State: flat Air Temperature: warm Sea Temperature: warm Weather: Sunny / cloud/hailstones Max Speed: 18.3 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 14.1 (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)
Forecast was ideal foil day, and most regulars split up today. Several on
the River Stour (Bradfield and 2 at Wrabness whilst other stayed at
Felixstowe. After yesterday Bradfield was the no brainer and as it turned
out I had a brilliant day on the foil, my 7th session ever foiling.
Prob 8 guys at Bradders, . Wind was light on arrival at 1.30 and tide was
still coming in but yet again I started doubting so big a sail, as big
gusts were coming thru and the pros on foil were rigging 5.x and 6.x!
Decided leave the half rigged 8.5 and rig the 7.8, but the wind dropped
badly so went back to rigging 8.5, when an almighty thunderstorm came thru
firing 10mm hailstones for 10 minutes, unbelievable on a sunny day in July!
Joe was on the water foiling said he had to hide under the sail, and we all
ran for shelter in our vehicles.
What a poxy sport windsurfing is! Almost miraculously the wind and sun came
back and the guys were flying. Graham went for 7.8 race sail. me 8.5 and
the others stayed small. My first few flights were nervy but getting up on
gusts continuously now by pumping back foot down more.
Had some great flights on port tack heading away from the beach but also
had many slam downs. As the wind increased the waist harness became useless
not giving me enough leverage or power on the mast foot. I couldn’t be
bothered to ditch it - but wont make that mistake again. All the sailors
our today were like pro's flying all over the place, and some even went up
to Manningtree upwind then blasted downwind the fastest av ever seen a
foil go! Spectacular, and shame he had no GPS. I started following them
around to pick up more tips as I can only really fly downwind, and have to
waste time low reaching back upwind, even more so when tide turned near
3pm.
Went overpowered several times which was pretty interesting! Then it was
all about stopping the foil flying!
Graham who started foiling last year popped his first foiling gybe -
brilliant for him. Can see the point of the wide back dedicated boards
truly today with the pro's on foil board. I appear to have not enough
leverage on the back foot to really pull the sail back and over my head to
tank up wind. When I am on a good upwind line after 20 meters I lose it and
the board luffs up badly, bouncing all over the place.
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