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Much windier than forecast and really good to be on smaller kit for the first time this year! The wind was almost too much for the 6.2!...Not a great day for speeds as the harbour looked more like open sea at times with some big chop running. Full on blasting day and really enjoyed it. I'm going to manage to sail all the way around Brownsea Island soon- got 2/3 of the way around but too knackered in the conditions to do any more. Was great broad reaching 3 miles back to sandbanks.

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The wind started off very offshore from the club, and as I said i'd meet a few people over at the other side I set off on a big down-winder.  With the wind fluctuating in strength and direction plus so many craft out it was choppy and rather hard work - still good to have a burn up with a few of the guys.

Got back up to the club side without too many issues but as it wasn't great in front there I was set to pack up and come back to the office.  However a few of the guys decided to head up to the manor house (to have tea with the earl) and as they were planing hard I thought i'd have another quick go...

That was the session of the day with some fast runs in the middle of the water just trying to click in and run with the groove of the chop lines.  Would have had a corker Alpha result but fell off the back of the board when I exited the gybe really quickly!  I think Ben had the best speed dismount of the day but I'll let him fill you in on that!

Next time it's blowing south-westerly I'll forget heading across to the north arm, the top end of the south arm was a million times better.

Kit: Slalom VI 56 / H2 6.2m / 31cm S09

Track: http://rippers.rikswindsurfing.com/gps-prints/2010/07/2010-07-04-rik-jones.jpg

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With our forecast 15 mph winds not coming until midday apparently we had abit of a lay in and read :) We made it to the Dip at 10.30 and Neil Hurrell was already out with 8m in a nice breeze so after a quick breakfast on the beach rigged the big freeride gear.It was fairly flat to start with but with the incoming tide the sea just got bigger and bigger but it was never windy enough for smaller kit !!! I started off with some reaches to join the kiters in the Deben river mouth then beat to the other side of the the pier and had a mega 3 mile reach back really broad :) A hour on the beach for lunch with Mag bringing goodies back from Lidel's :) and then I did it all again !!! but struggled on the long reach as my back leg really ached !!!
So a top top day ,shortie,sunshine and sailing with about 20 mates :) the most at Felixstowe for ages !!! no great speeds as too bumpy but just great fun :) Mag even had her bike serviced in the carpark by Pete Cutts and Clive Tricker - many thanks !!! I was the last in the carpark and did'nt get home until 7 - will sleep well tonight :)

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Day 2 of the BSA event in Hove.

Sunny and windy. Seven races of 3 buoy downwind slalom. Great fun!

A nice way to spend my Birthday. :)

Spot / Conditions: Hove (England), 12 knots
Kit: JP Slalom V 76, 8.4m NP RS:Slalom MK II, Tectonics Talon 46
Tech Details: Navi GT-31 V1.3 (B1123t), GPSResult v6.90, Doppler, Cubic Spline. 

First couple of hours wind was offshore and gusty so just went out for a bit of freeriding on my Chilli and 7.0 S2 in boardies and rashie.  Most of the time down at the church with my dad - great summer fun (and 1hr time above).

Came in for a snack and to get slalom kit rigged as the wind filled in and looked good up at the old house.  Once up there, wind was pretty constant and the kit felt really good - best I've felt on this set-up actually and I soon saw 33kts on the dial (just shy of my pb so well stoked).  Unfortunately after about 45mins I got a bit of air time off some chop, just as the footstrap loosened.  Result - front foot off board and then a superman dive over the sail ripping two panels with my harness hook in the process!!!  Gutted as reckon I would have had some good results if I could have stayed out longer but nevermind.  Still, managed 29kts on way in with just bottom half of sail intact but think I'll get it repaired.

Hope this is the start of some summer wind....

Rutland / SW 20-25kts / JP Slalom 89 / NP RSSII 6.7 / JP 32cm