Is it really Easter, I’ve got a garden full of snow and can’t remember when my hands froze sailing so much before. Though the wind was predicted to be northerly all week, there was just one glimmer of hope of a few hours of south-westerly spell we could catch at the Ray in Southend. We’ve only got a month to go and wanted to take every opportunity however small.

We took the risk and called it for drivenbywind on Thursday, but I didn’t expect to wake to zero wind. Once committed to getting everyone down to the Ray it doesn’t seem fair to pull out, plus every time we head out we’re learning more and setting up quicker.

It looked to be coming good just as the bank started to show, but as we took to the water the wind wouldn’t push over 22knots. There’s no point taking big kit, so we were pumping onto the plane with 6.0 and just hoping to get that magic gust.  Considering the conditions the times were pretty good and just short of 40knots.

Just as the light went and we had to call it a day, the wind ramped right up just to torment us once more. Maybe my daughter jinxed us, it was her 19th birthday and although I rushed back the party was well on its way. Got to be fair, the kids really do support me, but also want to be there for them.

The wind didn’t ease for the next couple of days, but as it swung back to the north the temperature plummeted. We sailed off my home beach at Brighlingsea, just sailing across the river, but it’s one of the only spots to sail locally in a north west.

It’s always going to be gusty, but I was still hanging on to a 4.7, it was supper cold on the hands, but with my new Spartan wetsuit the rest of me was ok. It was only when we packed up I realized just how cold my hands got as they started to burn, so why the hell we went out again the following day.

The wind turned slightly to the east, this is the worst for us, Walton-on-the-naze really needs a full northeast to work, but it was always worth a go. Didn’t realise the tide would be so high; it was already dumping on the beach when we arrived so had to struggle out in the wind shadow.

Tide and temperature closed play early, the beach was gone leaving nothing but roaster tales rushing down the sea wall, at least it was an opportunity to get the camera out. Though I missed the nutter trying to out run past the beach huts with the waves chasing him and his kids, fortunately I wasn’t the only one not to catch them, the waves missed them but I don’t know how.

It was a relief to see the wind had dropped on Sunday, the garden was full of snow and I know we’d have wound each other up for going out. The snow didn’t stay for long, but could be back tomorrow, but this time with wind.