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/20894/squiz/The%20Dip%20at%20Felixstowe 21st, June 2026 - Sunday 21st June - walk ***** – Solstice sunrise from Felixstowe Ferry – sunny and hot! Had a bit of a disturbed night as I was keen to head down to the coast to catch the Summer Solstice sunrise at 4.35 so when I woke again around 3.30 I got up, made a flask and put a couple of breakfast bars in the rucksack and we left home at 3.45. There was already several cars at the cliff top car park so I continued to Felixstowe Ferry parking behind the Martello tower and we walked through to the River Deben as the sky turned red over by Bawdsey beach, you couldn’t see the sunrise here so we walked down river to one of our favourite picnic spots and sat on the beach for our cuppa and waited for the sun to come up taking a few pics. The sun was a few minutes late due to a slight bank of cloud but it did come up and we got some nice pics including some cool selfies, one of which has over 1400 likes on Stunning Suffolk on Facebook but sadly none of my pics made it on the telly today, perhaps they will get on tomorrow, fingers crossed! It was brilliant being out early the first sunrise we have seen for ages, we returned to the van and drove to the jetty to see the misty river before returning home to sort out my pics! I then noticed the breeze from the east had picked up at nine so I decided to load up the van and drive down to check out The Dip. [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Sunday 21st June – Windsurf * The Dip at Felixstowe – sunny and hot. Foil – 11.20 knot max, 2.86 knot ave., 0.08 knot hour, 0.00 knot mile, 9.27 km., 0.00 knot alpha. Starboard Freeride 150 and a Tushingham Bolt 7.50 and 6.50. After getting up early to watch the summer solstice sunrise, getting up at 3.30, when I noticed the wind had picked up around nine I decided to load the van and head down to The Dip to check out the conditions, fellow windsurfer Micheal G was rigging 7.5 to head out on his longboard so I set up my foil board and rigged 6.5 but by the time I put my shortie on the wind was dropping and after a couple of floundering runs when I nearly got flying once I came ashore and rigged my 7.5 for the first time just as a winger went out with 5.5 but he never got going and neither did I with the bigger sail so after another couple of runs it was time to pack up and call it a day, fingers crossed for tomorrow! Relaxing afternoon at home before Maeva arrived with her mum and dad with a fathers day card and a huge Toblerone and we had loads of fun with Maeva trying to fly the flying saucers through the open windows ! Rating: 1 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20894/squiz/The%20Dip%20at%20Felixstowe Sun, 21 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20893/squiz/Felixstowe%20Ferry 21st, June 2026 - Sunday 21st June - walk ***** – Solstice sunrise from Felixstowe Ferry – sunny and hot! Had a bit of a disturbed night as I was keen to head down to the coast to catch the Summer Solstice sunrise at 4.35 so when I woke again around 3.30 I got up, made a flask and put a couple of breakfast bars in the rucksack and we left home at 3.45. There was already several cars at the cliff top car park so I continued to Felixstowe Ferry parking behind the Martello tower and we walked through to the River Deben as the sky turned red over by Bawdsey beach, you couldn’t see the sunrise here so we walked down river to one of our favourite picnic spots and sat on the beach for our cuppa and waited for the sun to come up taking a few pics. The sun was a few minutes late due to a slight bank of cloud but it did come up and we got some nice pics including some cool selfies, one of which has over 1400 likes on Stunning Suffolk on Facebook but sadly none of my pics made it on the telly today, perhaps they will get on tomorrow, fingers crossed! It was brilliant being out early the first sunrise we have seen for ages, we returned to the van and drove to the jetty to see the misty river before returning home to sort out my pics! I then noticed the breeze from the east had picked up at nine so I decided to load up the van and drive down to check out The Dip. [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Sunday 21st June – Windsurf * The Dip at Felixstowe – sunny and hot. Foil – 11.20 knot max, 2.86 knot ave., 0.08 knot hour, 0.00 knot mile, 9.27 km., 0.00 knot alpha. Starboard Freeride 150 and a Tushingham Bolt 7.50 and 6.50. After getting up early to watch the summer solstice sunrise, getting up at 3.30, when I noticed the wind had picked up around nine I decided to load the van and head down to The Dip to check out the conditions, fellow windsurfer Micheal G was rigging 7.5 to head out on his longboard so I set up my foil board and rigged 6.5 but by the time I put my shortie on the wind was dropping and after a couple of floundering runs when I nearly got flying once I came ashore and rigged my 7.5 for the first time just as a winger went out with 5.5 but he never got going and neither did I with the bigger sail so after another couple of runs it was time to pack up and call it a day, fingers crossed for tomorrow! Relaxing afternoon at home before Maeva arrived with her mum and dad with a fathers day card and a huge Toblerone and we had loads of fun with Maeva trying to fly the flying saucers through the open windows ! Rating: 5 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20893/squiz/Felixstowe%20Ferry Sun, 21 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20892/maker/Llanfairfechan%20 21st, June 2026 - Felt 8-9 knots gusting 11-12 knots, Michael's new anemometer said hovering around 9 knots gusting to 11.5 knot. Hard work pumping up, but OK in gusts so pleased with that and new foil. Sharpened light wind gybes which I usually struggle with and got most footswaps except when too slow in light airs. Nice surprise to get out as not much forecast. Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20892/maker/Llanfairfechan%20 Sun, 21 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20891/squiz/Felixstowe%20Ferry%20and%20Hemley 20th, June 2026 - Saturday 20th June - walks *** – Around Felixstowe – sunny and hot! Walk 1 – Early morning at Felixstowe Ferry including. I know its a bit of a waste time taking weather pics at the weekend but it gives me something to do so I had a quick drive down to Felixstowe Ferry once again at 7 and it was already pretty warm in wall to wall sunshine with a light breeze. Mag and I had breakfast enjoying the peace and quiet in our little garden before I started my exercises. It seemed breezy so I did load up the van for a drive down to The Manor to check out the conditions, firstly Squiz Lane was heaving and the wind was marginal at best so I retuned home to complete my exercise! Walk 2 – Hemley circuit. I then packed a picnic and we left home fairly late, easily after two in search of some shade and ended up under the trees in front of Hemley church, it was still pretty warm as we started lunch in the van so I got our chairs out and sat under the tree where it was much cooler and were entertained by several buzzards circling overhead as banks of fluffy clouds rolled past, so quiet too with not many people about! Well rested we thought we should make the effort and walk down to the River Deben in time to so an old yacht sail past and loads of dinghies were out racing up at Waldringfield. We continue along the Deben path to Kirton Creek and back along the inland path which was very hot but there were loads of butterflies but sadly no barn owl! We were pleased to get back to the van for the drive home for a welcome cuppa, finishing the day with tea in the garden, might be even hotter tomorrow! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20891/squiz/Felixstowe%20Ferry%20and%20Hemley Sat, 20 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20890/squiz/Felixstowe%20Ferry%20and%20Bawdsey 19th, June 2026 - Friday 19th June - walks ***** – Around Felixstowe – sunny and hot but a little hazy! Walk 1 – Early morning walk at Felixstowe Ferry including breakfast. With Friday being Maeva day Mag had a plan, get up early take a pastry and flask down to Felixstowe Ferry for a walk and breakfast:) Leaving home at 6 we parked by the Ferryboat pub walking first to my favourite yellow boat and through the boatyard to take a few pics of the lovely reflections of clouds in the Deben. We reached the bench near the jetty for breakfast enjoying the peace and quiet before continuing along the river path to where the Deben meets the sea, then home to send some pics to the TV weather. Mag and I then have breakfast in the sunny, warm back garden and cooks some sausages for lunch. Mag then goes to pick up Maeva while I have just enough time to do my exercises. Walk 2 – Over on the ferry to Bawdsey with Maeva for fun on the beach. The lovely Maeva arrives, I have filled a trug with water but I put Maeva off when I pick her up to put her feet in it so we make biscuits instead! We then once again drive down to the Ferry again arriving at 12.10 and walk past the sailing club to the jetty and wait for the ferry to arrive, Maeva is surprised when we get on the boat for a trip across the river and the very nice ferryman does not charge us for Maeva, with the jetty on the Bawdsey side out of action we landed on the beach and had to walk down a plank! We then walk upriver to the sandy beach and get some beach toys to play with from a large box, it was great to see several small kids playing in the mud as the tide comes in! We find a nice spot and sit on the pebbles and I coax Maeva in for a paddle, we have to move back as the tide was reaching us and have our picnic while watching loads of yachts head in and out! We then have fun making sandcastles and splashing about in the river, just brilliant. It was then time to head back to catch the ferry, we had a wait for a bit as they had to change ferrymen but Maeva had fun waving the white bat to call the ferry! It then made its way across the river with three cyclists onboard and we boarded and set off, the Ferryman then asked Maeva if she would like to steer for a bit, she loved it, what a very nice man :) We then walked back to the van and home, I sent a few more pics to the telly, one of which was chosen as a BBC Editors Pick but it did not make it on the telly, shame really as it was a cracker! Maeva made loads of fun playing with the trug full of water for an hour before I made a cuppa and Maeva ate loads of the biscuits she made earlier! We then watched a few Peppa Pigs before taking her home, another top Maeva Friday, despite the heat! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 5 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20890/squiz/Felixstowe%20Ferry%20and%20Bawdsey Fri, 19 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20889/maker/Llanfairfechan 19th, June 2026 - Wind been variable last few days so as soon as tide was high enough went in and was good as swells built. For last part of session moved stab forward, felt less pitch stable, more lively, missed half of footswaps though sea was bigger off Pen-Y-Clip and wind picked up until too much. Some good rides. Will keep stab at back. Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20889/maker/Llanfairfechan Fri, 19 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20888/maker/Llanfairfechan%20 18th, June 2026 - Sunny morning, rainy afternoon, went in the evening but only lasted 10 mins before wind dropped and too shallow to restart in dropping tide. Pleased 950 flew in such light breeze with 4.5m. Rating: 2 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20888/maker/Llanfairfechan%20 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20887/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe 18th, June 2026 - Thursday 18th June - walks **** – Around Felixstowe – sunny periods and warm until the sea fog and drizzle! Walk 1 – Early Felixstowe prom. I joined Mag on her early morning prom walk leaving home at 6 taking both my cameras but it was pleasant enough if not very inspiring taking my first pics at Jacobs Ladder and some more of the lovely poppies in the Spa Gardens near the Pram walk! Then home to sort out my photos with a cuppa before having breakfast in the garden with Mag before I do my exercises and it’s pretty warm now while Mag potters dead heading and tying things back! Walk 2 – Jacobs Ladder to the Deben for a picnic :) Then Mag had the idea we take lunch and walk from Jacobs Ladder, so we pack some crackers and brie with a flask and leave home at one. We drive down to Jacobs Ladder and walk down the steep steps to the beach and are greeted by the most amazing blue sky with some wispy clouds, just stunning, warm on the coast too with a light onshore breeze. Our aim was to walk to The Dip to join up all this week’s walks along the prom, after a short section of beach, up and down some steps we reach the next section of concrete prom with its rows of beach huts, nice to see a few actually being used! The tide was fairly high so there was note too many places to sit for lunch so we continued out onto the shingle spit opposite the golf course for our picnic! It was very pleasant sitting out to sea, several yachts about too, then after lunch the breeze picked up and the temperature dropped a little so it was time to head back. We took the steps up to the cliff top car park and walked back along the top just as the sea fog rolled in, can’t believe how quickly the blue sky disappeared! PS - I was chuffed to get a foggy pic on BBC's Look East today and went down to Felixstowe Ferry to watch the sunset! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20887/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20886/maker/Llanfairfechan 17th, June 2026 - Wind very up and down, first two short goes ended with drifting back in. Wind picked up well for third go and chance to use new mast and fuse which finally turned up. Tired after long wait for wind but good workout for new gear. Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20886/maker/Llanfairfechan Wed, 17 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20885/squiz/The%20Manor%20at%20Felixsrtowe 17th, June 2026 - Wednesday 17th June – Windsurf **** The Manor at Felixstowe – cloudy first thing then sunny. Foil – 17.08 knot max, 15.72 knot ave., 10.41 knot hour, 15.10 knot mile, 32.28 km., 12.43 knot alpha. Starboard Freeride 150 and a Tushingham Bolt 6.50. Cracking forecast for today a cloudy start with very light rain then sunny with 20 knots of wind from the SW. I was keen to get out on the water way before high water just past 2 so drove down to The Manor car park at nine to drop Mag off for her morning walk and went to park in Squiz Lane and was setting up my foil board as Mag approached along the beach. I waved her goodbye as the Stenna Fery left the Orwell and with maybe 15 knots of wind I rigged my 6.50 which proved OK for today’s session! The wind was a fraction off when I launched just before ten and soon found the wind and did a couple of long two mile runs out to sea, I then decided to have a run up the coast as it was wind with tide so getting back would be no problem! I had a lovely two broad run down to the Fludyers before turning and heading in gybing in front of The Hut before continuing so I was opposite The Dip but I didn’t sail to the shore as I was getting tired, maybe old age is creeping up and it is defiantly a lot rougher down that way so started the beat back as the wind picked up to 20 knots. Getting back was no problem but I was pleased to get away from the area between The Fludyers and the pier as it was getting lumpy, it was much smoother at The Manor end. I decided to head ashore for a snack and debate whether I would go out again which meant rigging another sail and with the tide getting high I decided to call it a day, shame really as the sun had just come out, still I had a good challenging couple of hours! Home by 12.30, sort out a few pics and have lunch in the garden with Mag before doing my exercises in the sunshine! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20885/squiz/The%20Manor%20at%20Felixsrtowe Wed, 17 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20884/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe 16th, June 2026 - Tuesday 16th June - walks **** – Around Felixstowe – sunny periods and warm! Walk 1 – Early Felixstowe prom. As it was a lovely start to the day here in Felixstowe I joined Mag on her early morning Felixstowe prom walk but we left a little later around 6.40. It’s always the best time of day to be out and about as we made our way to the end of the prom at The Manor taking a few pics to send to the TV weather and home to sort out my pics in bed with a cuppa. Then up to have breakfast in our little garden surrounded by a mass of blooms courtesy of Maggie and the bees and butterflies are loving it! I then did my exercises in the very warm garden while taking a few pics when a Hummingbird Moth paid a visit. I was then chuffed to get a pic both taken in our garden on the telly, one on the BBC and one on ITV :) Walk 2 – Afternoon prom with ice cream :) Mag and I then had lunch in the garden before we walked round to have a cuppa with our old friend Mary before we walked down to the prom past Harvest house when Mag suggested we have an ice cream and enjoyed eating them on the beach which was very pleasant, I even had a doze while Mag did some word games on her phone before we headed for home for a cuppa, there is a chance of a windsurf foil tomorrow, fingers crossed the wind plays ball! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20884/squiz/Around%20Felixstowe Tue, 16 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20883/maker/Llanfairfechan 16th, June 2026 - Good wind disappeared as I launched and despite putting stab on backwards again sailed out but in light winds drifted back. Wind retuned and nice rides on surprise swells until it disappeared again.. Funny day with some very good bits. Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20883/maker/Llanfairfechan Tue, 16 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20882/squiz/Landguard%20Nature%20Reserve 15th, June 2026 - Monday 15th June - walks *** – Landguard Nature Reserve circuit – sunny start then clouding over with a cool breeze! Mag went for her early morning prom walk and once again I slept right through it but when she returned I decided to have a drive round at 6.30 to take a few weather pics as it was nice and sunny with a light breeze. I ended up at the cliff top car as there are loads of poppies at the moment and had a walk out onto the shingle bar before returning home to sort out the photos. After breakfast I started my exercises in the back garden but it had now clouded over and when we got a few spots of rain I came indoors, not overly warm either:( Mag packed todays picnic, yummy egg sandwiches and as we had to do a big Lidl shop to drove down to have a walk through Landguard Nature Reserve, it was a tad on the gloomy side and with a breeze from the east I could have done with my fleece on! Wildlife was a little thin on the ground just the odd rabbit and a few linnets and pipits. We reached the Orwell and walked out onto the small wooden pier to watch a container ship being helped onto its berth by three tugs and the yellow Harwich foot came ashore. We continued along the Orwell and found a spot sheltered from the breeze behind the sea wall for lunch and watch a small boat working on the channel bouys and there was several yachts out. We then walked back across the reserve away from the beach where it was a little warmer, shop and home for a cuppa and cake:) The wind picked up late afternoon enough to foil but it was way too late for me to be bothered, fingers crossed we get some wind on Wednesday! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20882/squiz/Landguard%20Nature%20Reserve Mon, 15 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20881/squiz/The%20Dip%20to%20the%20Deben 14th, June 2026 - Sunday 14th June - walk **** – The Dip to the Deben – sunny start then cloudy! Mag did her early morning walk along Felixstowe prom and I didn’t even stir, certainly the best part of the day with wall to wall sunshine with a light offshore breeze, she said there was a yacht anchored close to the shore near the Spa Theatre so I had a drive down to take a few pics, in fact it was there all day! We enjoyed a lovely morning at home enjoying the peace and quiet, after breakfast I did my exercises in the back garden before packing a picnic. We headed out at midday, first stop was to fill the van up with diesel, the price is slowly dropping, we then had a video call from our son in Devon who gave our Grandson Arlo his new bike we bought for him recently he was suitably surprised and very pleased, we got some video later in the afternoon of him riding it, he can’t wait to get on some forest trails! Mag and I then continued to The Dip, parking at our windsurf car park, it had clouded over now but the wind was still light and nice and mild making it ideal for a walk along the prom to our picnic spot by the entrance to the Deben. There was some container ships anchored up far out and a small survey ship working up and down the coast but not a yacht in sight! We enjoyed a relaxing lunch with not many people about mainly dog walkers out and about many taking a dip as the tide dropped; the only thing to disturb the peace and quiet was a helicopter flying past! We then walked back along the beach and it was nice to see families on the beach playing football and out on paddle boards! It was then home for a cuppa followed by tea in the back garden – top day! [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 4 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20881/squiz/The%20Dip%20to%20the%20Deben Sun, 14 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100 http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20880/squiz/Levington 13th, June 2026 - Saturday 13th June – Windsurf *** River Orwell at Levington – sunny periods. Foil – 18.93 knot max, 17.45 knot ave., 8.99 knot hour, 15.21 knot mile, 36.84 km., 13.71 knot alpha. Starboard Freeride 150 and a Tushingham Bolt 5.75. A good forecast today with the wind starting off west then turning more north with sunny periods so I decided to head over to Levington early arriving at the marina just after 8. The wind was probably wnw a tad off but with white water down the middle I quickly set-up my foil board and rigged my 5.75 which proved OK for most of the session although a little up and down at times! On the water at nine I was having some good runs in front of the marina, a bit of a swell running down the middle of the river but fairly smooth at the side which made gybing nice! I managed a few runs down towards the docks great to be out with loads of yachts and had great fun sailing as close to their sterns as possible getting loads of waves and nice being out in the sunshine. I then decided to beat back up river a little way and several racing yachts were out getting ready for the off and it was brilliant sailing in the middle of them, A couple of old barges sailed up and with the wind turning patchy I decided to call it a day and return to the van for a snack and take a few pics of the yachts keeled right over with the crew sitting on the side of the boats, great to watch:) Then pack up, shower and I was home by 12.30, so after sending a few pics to the TV weather I had lunch in the sunny back garden with Mag before we walked up the town and down to the seafront before returning home for a cuppa and cake, nice day:) PS - was chuffed to get a pic of last nights sunset at Felixstowe Dock view point on the BBC National weather forecast:) [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=stephen.squirrell.1&set=a.10236479398617648]Photo Album here[/url] Rating: 3 stars. http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/dbdriven/diary/diary.php/view_entry/20880/squiz/Levington Sat, 13 Jun 2026 01:05:00 +0100