Owner:
squiz
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Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3081
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27th January 2022
Windsurfing: Levington Wind Direction: NW Wind Stength: 10/30 Surf / Sea State: smooth and river swell Air Temperature: 11 Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny periods Max Speed: 17.94 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 18.50 mile (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)
Thursday 27th January - Windsurf **** River Orwell at Levington – sunny
periods.
Foil – 17.94 knot max, 16.93 knot ave., 9.86 knot hour, 14.38 knot mile,
29.82 km., 14.58 knot alpha.
Exocet RF AST 91 with Slingshot Hover Glide 76 with Tushingham Thunderbird
6.5m.
Was keen to make the most of todays forecast of a good breeze of a good
breeze and much milder than of late, despite the fact the tide for the
River Orwell was not ideal, low water at 12.12 and the wind from the NW not
perfect either there were no other options so I headed over to the marina
arriving just before 11 with the sun just breaking through:) There was a
huge chain running the length of our parking area but you could drive over
it so parked with no problem. With the wind a fraction cross off it was
difficult to pick a sail but after setting up my foil board and walking it
to the launch spot right by the entrance to the marina there looked loads
of wind in the middle, lovely and flat too I decided to take a chance with
my favourite Thunderbird 6.5. Even with the tide just shy of low launching
was easy and you could sail straight out of the marina channel, I did have
to wait for a yacht leaving the marina for a sail but I was soon out in
deep water but at first the wind was too light, I even considered returning
for my 8.5, in the end I was glad I didn’t as the wind built, gusting to
30 knots for awhile at the end! With the wind building nicely now and the
sun out with just me, a few yachts and birds, I had two swans fly right
overhead plus the usual geese with the highlight being a large flock of
Avocets heading upriver, just amazing:) I had a few long runs down the
river but the wind was particularly patchy so I on the corner sailing short
runs practising gybing and got some good ones, it is coming along nicely
now although I did go in the cold water a few times! It is definitely
better with a smaller sail and rotational is the way to go for foiling!
With the wind really getting strong now I started the short beat back and
had made it back when my UJ broke right in front of the launch spot! The
safety rope keep it attached to my board I quickly dropped my rig so not to
damage my board and as I always carry a spare UJ I quickly replaced it but
it was then my problems started as it is impossible to bend it enough to
attach the mast!!! I noticed that I was drifting back towards the shore so
sat there and waited till I reached shallow water. It was then that I
noticed the small marina boat used to tow the yachts about was heading out
to see if I was OK:) A very nice man then towed me to shallow water where I
still had trouble locating the mast into the uj, there is no way you could
do it out to sea in waves and will probably have to invest in a hinged uj
now that bends to 90 degrees! With the mast eventually reattached I had a
few more runs across the river but I was way overpowered now and there was
a big swell running too so decided to call it a day and headed back. Fellow
windsurfer Mark Swain arrived and we had a nice chat, he even sorted out my
rescue beacon for me:) Looking like a day off tomorrow before another good
day on Saturday, hopefully a westerly but the temperature is going to be
12/13 degrees, should be good!
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