Personal logs for windsurfing, surfing, kitesurfing and other sports. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php Copyright 2006. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21066/mas/Bradfield 19th, September 2026 - Bradfield - Saturday 19th September HT 18:00, Wind S / SW, gusty offshore, 10-23 knots forecast Weather: Sunny intervals, cloud at times, rain at the end 23°C. I arrived early at the Bradfield launch to sort out the chaos in my trailer, which had become rather disorderly after the last few sessions. The wind was offshore and the forecast suggested 10-25 knots. My own readings showed 15 knots average with gusts to 19 knots, so it looked very much game on. AI recommended the high-wind setup: 5.8m, 900 front wing, 330 tail, 95 fuse, -1.5 shim and mast foot 5mm aft, so I went with that. Six sailors turned up, split evenly between wingers and windfoilers. Unfortunately, I became the guinea pig. As I headed across towards the far bank to find the better wind, it quickly became obvious that conditions were much lighter than both my readings and the forecast had suggested. In hindsight, I should have rigged the 7.8m. There were some decent gusts, and I managed a few good blasts around Mistley Bay where the wind was cleanest, but they were few and far between. The others took note of my struggle and sensibly rigged larger kit. The windfoilers went for 8-9 metre sails, while the wingers were on 6-6.5m wings. They enjoyed a very good two-hour session because the wind settled at a fairly steady 15 knots. After a long slog back, I switched to my light-wind foil setup, changing to the 105 fuse with the 1300/500 foil combination that was already assembled. That improved things slightly and I managed several runs between Wrabness and Mistley, albeit at a fairly leisurely pace. Meanwhile, everyone else seemed to be having a five-star day, blasting around fully powered on their bigger equipment. The session reinforced a few lessons. Firstly, at my weight, a 5.8m sail simply isn't enough in 15 knots. It demands constant pumping to exploit every gust. With my larger sails I rarely pump at all and can simply sail the wind that's available. I've also decided to stick with the seat harness and retire the waist harness. The difference in available power is significant. Sitting into the harness during gusts gives noticeably more drive and control. One positive was how well the AI-recommended high-wind tuning worked. When the stronger 20+ knot gusts did arrive, the setup felt spot on. I've never really paid much attention to shims or mast foot adjustments in the past, but the -1.5 shim did an excellent job of keeping the nose down when fully powered on the 900 setup. Equally, moving the mast foot aft was something I would never normally have considered, as I expected it to induce tail walking. Instead, the board felt remarkably balanced and I could step into the rear straps comfortably whenever the stronger gusts arrived. Sadly, I finished the day as the last sailor on the water, hanging on in hope of the stronger breeze that often accompanies high tide. It never materialised. The wind sat stubbornly at around 15 knots all evening, leaving me frustrated at having missed what could have been an excellent session through another incorrect wind assessment. We eventually packed up in the dark, with G still having two sails left to rig down. To add insult to injury, the day ended badly at the spa. I arrived too late, couldn't find a parking space, and when I finally did get parked, the place was closing. One of those days where everyone else seemed to make exactly the right choices, while I spent most of the session learning lessons the hard way. Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21066/mas/Bradfield Sat, 19 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21065/maker/Llanfairfechan 20th, September 2026 - Either wind dropped ahead of forecast or I was late starting. Drifted in and out, nowhere near starting. Rating: 1 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21065/maker/Llanfairfechan Sun, 20 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21064/squiz/Levington 20th, September 2026 - Sunday 20th September – Windsurf **** River Orwell at Levington – sunny periods. Foil – 19.36 knot max, 18.32 knot ave., 9.35 knot hour, 14.67 knot mile, 30.47 km., 14.41 knot alpha. Starboard Freeride 150 and a Evolution Freeride foil with a Tushingham Bolt 6.5m. After yesterdays pretty full-on windsurf foil on the sea then wind today switched round to WNW offshore on the coast but I was keen to get out today as the wind is set to drop light for a week. I know the dropping tide with low water at 12.30 would not suit most meaning I would probably have the River Orwell at Levington to myself as I arrived at the marina at 9.30, fairly cloudy at this point. With the wind a tad offshore it was hard to judge the winds strength so I took my camera and wind meter for a walk towards Levington Creek where it was gusting 18 mph so I returned to set-up and took a chance with my 6.5 which was OK, the wind was a little up and down, in the end it was gusting over 25 knots and I was pleased to get ashore! Loads of yachts were leaving the marina for their Sunday race which got under way around ten. I launched by the marina entrance with the tide still pretty high and easily sailed to the deeper water and sailed down to the corner where the wind was stronger and had some nice runs down the river, only about half way to the docks as I lost the wind but it was great being on the water with the many racing boats. I was exciting when the yachts had there spinackers up, with some big gusts coming through it was some difficult sailing for them and me at times! I had some fun gybing round one of the yellow water ski bouys and the sun was out now so it was really pleasant to be on the water, well until the wind picked up! I had a nice bonus couple of hours and headed back landing with no problems. Pack-up, shower and home by 1.30 to see how much grass we had left as Mag has decided it has to go! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10237627094549329]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21064/squiz/Levington Sun, 20 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21063/maker/Llanfairfechan 19th, September 2026 - Nicely powered on 4.5m to start, wind a bit up and down but mostly climbing to well powered. Some nice well rides. First time with Usurf 135 stab; feels stable and turns very well and tight though doesn't glide quite as well as Ucarve 140 in Silk 750 conditions. Neap tides and WSW so less x-chop and able to get more over board and most footswaps I tried worked though get betterr at toeside so footswapping only when confident.Nice day Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21063/maker/Llanfairfechan Sat, 19 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21062/squiz/The%20Manor-Felixstowe 19th, September 2026 - Saturday 19th September – Windsurf *** The Manor at Felixstowe – mainly cloudy. Foil – 18.68 knot max, 17.46 knot ave., 0.00 knot hour, 15.89 knot mile, 30.00 km., 14.72 knot alpha. Starboard Freeride 150 and a Evolution Freeride foil with a Tushingham Bolt 5m and Naish Nalu 4.75. With a moderate to fresh breeze from the WSW forecast today I wanted to be onn the water around low water at 11 but I couldn’t wait that long so headed down to Squiz Lane at The Manor arriving at 9.30 taking Mag with me for her morning walk. It was for the main part cloudy today but we did get some glimpses of sunshine, after waving Mag off my foil board was soon set-up on the beach, sail size was harder, it did look breezy on the water with the wind being a tad off-shore but I took a chance with my 5m. Launching at 10.30 with the sea fairly smooth and to be honest I was a tad overpowered but was coping OK so was having some fun when I dropped a gybe onn the outside where the sea was quite big and my GT-31 (gps) fell out of the holder and was lost forever:( I really am obessed with sailing with my gps so returned to the beach and actually changed sails, rigging my old Naish 4.75 and switched on my spare GT-31 and I mistakenly thought that it was not picking up the satalite signal so wasted an hour waiting for it! Local windsurfer Al Wiz came down for a chat saying he was going out on his 115 with a 6m and that he had a GT-31 he has never used and is willing to sell it to me:) I decided to head out againnn still thinking my GPS was not working and had some cracking runs with some top gybes with the smaller sail but to be honest my heart was not in it so I called it a day and headed home for a cuppa and toast in the garden with Mag where she told me her plans to get rid of the grass before watch England Red Roses rugby team play Canada and to be honest I thought they were pretty poor and a drew is never a good result! PS – I would have given it more stars if I had not lost my GPS!!!!! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10237627094549329]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21062/squiz/The%20Manor-Felixstowe Sat, 19 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21061/squiz/The%20Dip-Felixstowe 18th, September 2026 - Friday 18th September - walk *** – The Dip at Felixstowe – sunny periods. Maeva Friday again, breakfast in the sunny back garden, I have time to do my exercises and pack todays picnic before Maeva arrives, sadly she was a little argumentative today and would not help Mag plant some bulbs but I read her Hairy Mc Clary twice (my favourite) and she picked up as we headed off to our small windsurfing car park at The Dip for our picnic, lovely and sunny with a good breeze from the WSW meaning we were pretty sheltered here! The picnic went well and we had taken the large green tractor my Dad bought for Grandson Arlo which has now been passed onto Maeva which I have attached a roof rack strap to pull her which was slow going as she hasn’t got the hang of steering yet and I was surprised we made it as far as the end of the beach huts but Maeva enjoyed pulling the tractor back to the van so we could get the candle train out and sing a belated Happy Birthday to Mag which she loved! Then on the way home I took a detour to the view point to watch a container ship come in and stopped off at The Manor to watch Al Wizz windsurfing but he was packing up at which point Maeva fell asleep as she was shattered. A few Blueys and the telly before taking her home after another full day. Some sad news one of Maevas cats the lovely Pepsi passed away in the night:( [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10237627094549329]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21061/squiz/The%20Dip-Felixstowe Fri, 18 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21060/maker/Llanfairfechan 18th, September 2026 - Wild forecast later so morning session at low Neaps. Nasty gusts but otherwise OK until wind too strong. Practiced toeside rides/gybes and footswaps which went OK but tricky fails in gusts. Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21060/maker/Llanfairfechan Fri, 18 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21059/squiz/The%20Manor-Felixstowe 17th, September 2026 - Thursday 17th September – Windsurf *** The Manor at Felixstowe – Cloudy with drizzle then sunny periods. Foil – 19.71 knot max, 17.97 knot ave., 11.50 knot hour, 15.76 knot mile, 30.24 km., 13.69 knot alpha. Starboard Freeride 150 and a Evolution Freeride foil with a Tushingham Bolt 5.75m. Windsurf *** - mainly cloudy with drizzle Funny forecast, a good breeze starting SW but turning west in the after with a wet morning which rather put me off! Then a winger said he was heading to The Manor at 10,30 so when the light rain stopped I decided to head down to Squiz Lane arriving at 11.10 with some brief glimpses of sun. I quickly set up my foil board but the drizzle returned while I was rigging my 5.75 and I hate sailing in the rain but luckily the rain stopped as I headed out to join the winger with a wind WSW a tad off and had my usual long runs out, once again it was smooth in and quite big out by the shipping channel. Al Wiz then appeared on his 130 lt. and 7.5 just as the wind decided to go westerly, I continued saing and had a few nice runs in front of Landguard beach before deciding to call it a day and made it back to my launch beach with no problems only losing the wind a 100m out. Had a nice chat with Al before heading for home as the sky started to clear and the sun made an appearance. Walk *** sunny periods. I learned from Mag we were picking up our Granddaughter, the lovely Maeva from playschool at 3.30 so I joined Mag in the walk there! She is a ray of sunshine in a somewhat depressing world and as it was a nice afternoon now we decided to walk down to the beach even if Maeva was not too keen! It was very pleasant walking along the prom and up through the Spa Gardens and home for yummy toast with a cuppa! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10237627094549329]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21059/squiz/The%20Manor-Felixstowe Thu, 17 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21058/maker/Llanfairfechan 17th, September 2026 - Wind quite variable in strength from nice on 4.5m to well overpowered. Got some swell rides in. Fun. Of course when I changed down to 3.5m the wind lightened. Tired so left it at that, good session. Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21058/maker/Llanfairfechan Thu, 17 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21057/squiz/Felixstowe%20and%20Aldeburgh 16th, September 2026 - Wednesday 16th April - walks ***** – Sunrise Felixstowe and Aldeburgh – sunny periods and showers. Walk 1 – Sunrise along Felixstowe prom. Woke early as usual on what is Mags 66th Birthday but still no pension for another 6 months, it looked a nice morning so we decided to go on a sunrise stroll along Felixstowe prom, leaving home just after 6. We watched the sunrise above a small bank of cloud a fraction late before returning home to do the usual word games. I had a plan for a day out so we got up early and had breakfast inn the sunny back garden before I packed a picnic for the mystery tour:) Walk 2 – Aldeburgh seafront. Leaving Felixstowe at 10.10 we headed up the A 12 and Mag guessed our destination when we took the Aldeburgh road! We parked right opposite the famous Aldeburgh metal shell sculpture on the beach and got some nice pics when the sun peeked out from behind the cool clouds! With the wind dead offshore we decided to walk along the tight packed shingle beach towards Aldeburgh looking for heart shaped pebbles. We reached the fishing boats and huts on the beach with some lovely old buildings behind them making for some nice pics! I was looking for my favourite white fishing boat that used to be at Felixstowe Ferry but has now moved here and was supposed to be now launched off the beach but it was nowhere to be seen:( We stopped at the small boating lake near the Tudor Moat Hall and continued to the end of the town past Slaughden Sailing club where we used to windsurf race many years ago on the River Alde with its many moored boats. Past the more up market Aldeburgh Sailing club where we spotted the white fishing boat moored in the river:) We turned at the impressive clover shaped Martello Tower which we have been in when some friends rented it:) Then all we had to do was walk the two miles back to the van which was made easier when we stopped for an expensive sausage roll which we ate near the lifeboat station! We made it back to the van just before a heavy shower arrived and enjoyed a relaxing hour in the van with the picnic and dozing as we were both knackered! We then had a quick stop at the lovely Thorpness mere with its impressive selection of rowing boats before returning to Felixstowe. Then we had a visit from Maeva with her Mum and Dad to give Mag a homemade present and had a top video call from our Grandson in Devon who had the giggles with Maeva, so all in all a top day:) [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10237627094549329]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 5 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21057/squiz/Felixstowe%20and%20Aldeburgh Wed, 16 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21056/maker/Llanfairfechan 16th, September 2026 - Another choppy day with some rideable swells.Some unexpected dropsin turbulence from x-chop then startedto get used to it. Another tough day but worth it for the few swell rides. Speed helping footswaps and gybes even intricky seas. Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21056/maker/Llanfairfechan Wed, 16 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21055/squiz/The%20Manor-Felixstowe 15th, September 2026 - Tuesday 15th September – Windsurf **** The Manor at Felixstowe – some sunny periods. Foil – 18.91 knot max, 17.81 knot ave., 11.81 knot hour, 16.31 knot mile, 40.03 km., 13.73 knot alpha. Starboard Freeride 150 and a Evolution Freeride foil with a Tushingham Bolt 5.75m. A good forecast today with a moderate breeze from the SW maybe WSW and I was keen to get out early to make the most of low water so parked at Squiz Lane at The manor end in Felixstowe at 8.20 and my foil board was quickly set-up on the beach. Sail choice was harder as the wid was cross off but there looked a good breeze a hundred metres off the beach, I toyed with rigging my 6.50 but in the ed went with my trusty 5.75 which proved OK for the ear two hour session! Launching just after 9 I picked up the wind about a 100m off and once agai had some lovely long flying runs in some nice smooth water. The wind probably turned even more off as I beat up to Landguard beach and the wind did turn a little patchy but I managed to get flying on every run and didn’t fall in once, just my out on the water with several swallows out over the sea heading south for the winter, amazing to think that such small birds fly so far! After sailing nearly 25 miles it was time to call it a day and head in and was home by midday to unload as we are having a day out for Mags 66th Birthday:) [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10237627094549329]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21055/squiz/The%20Manor-Felixstowe Tue, 15 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21054/maker/Llanfairfechan 15th, September 2026 - Some good rides but out of sync with chop and gusty wind. Underpowered on 3.5m so up to 4.5m and under too after a while Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21054/maker/Llanfairfechan Tue, 15 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21053/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe 13th, September 2026 - Monday 14th September - walk *** – Around Felixstowe – Sunny periods with some drizzle and warm. I missed Mags early morning prom walk but did decide to have a drive down to Felixstowe Ferry at 7.30 just as the sun made it above a bank of cloud and the sky turned blue, there had been overnight I think as there were lots of puddles! I had a walk round the boatyard taking the usual boat pics as the tide was very low and stopped off along The Fludyers for more pics to send to the TV and got a few nice shots of beach hut reflections one of which was used by Kate Kinsella of this evenings BBC Look East :) After sending my photos into the telly, Mag headed to Lidl while I did my exercises in the back garden now cloudy with some drizzle. Mag and I then had a walk round the town separately before I packed a picnic setting off to our spot in the Spa Gardens just past the theatre with the sun returning, it was very pleasant being warm with a light onshore breeze! We then had to pick up our Granddaughter from playschool a bonus visit which we enjoyed, she helped Mag plant loads of bulbs for next spring and loved having worms in her had from mags compost and enjoyed making bead necklaces before she was picked at 7.30 by her mum and dad! PS - I was chuffed to learn that one of my photos has been shortlisted for the National Historic Ships UK Photography competition :) [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10237627094549329]Photo Album here[/url] [url=https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/photography-competition/shortlist]National Historic Ships UK Photography Competition Shortlist here[/url] Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21053/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe Sun, 13 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21052/maker/Llanfairfechan 14th, September 2026 - Felt like summer's back. Wind gradually increased through 4.5m to 3.5m, hanging on to 4.5m for too long. Good rides on swells and packed up tired. Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/21052/maker/Llanfairfechan Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0100