Just a reminder, last week I was windsurfing in a shelly spot with my wife and I felt from the board and while falling I put my foot over a broken beer bottle that was just sitting on the bottom of the beach.
Fuc...ing bas...ard the person that thrown the bottle in the sea and stupid me that I didn't wear my water shoes.
Now I got 3 stitches on the bottom of my foot, just in the middle of it, and for 10 f...ing days I can't windsurf or either walk.
I've gone so far as tying my footwear to a mooring ball.
(Get going, tie boots, get out all day, pick up said boots on the way in.)
Not always possible though.
I like to sail bare foot, but like you I've had mishaps in the past.
Meh.... You take your chances, like crossing the road.
Or even traveling on an escalator, I have heard of people both falling down them and being toppled over by a passerby... Resulting in serious injury, but still, I rarely hold the hand rail!
For the one time you stepped on glass there are a hundred you didn't, I personally don't think risk is that bad compared to the awkwardness and discomfort of windsurfing in booties.
And before someone mentions it helmets and life saving gear are a different kettle of fish, you sure a few stitches or a less severe cut will ruin you day or even your weekly, but you only need one fatal blow to the head, or to drown once for it to be a REALLY bad day ( that said I wear neither a hard hat nor a floater, but had this discussion before)
I believe I have been really unlucky and I personally prefer windsurfing without shoes as I have a better feeling with the board.
Anyway your suggestions make me think about buying also a nice helmet for the windy winter!
ive tied volleys to the boom clamp many times when doing a crabbing run. works a treat!
At safety bay there's always a bottle or two in the water
To step on when you come in, I try to avoid feet first landings
Razor fish are a big problem on Lake Macquarie but I hate wearing booties so will have to run the gauntlet.
I almost never wear shoes PERIOD....the last place I would start wearing them regularly is out on the water...
I always wear wetsuit boots would prefer not to and if I was sailing deep water with a sandy launch most likely would not. Then again not sure how much protection I would get from a tin bit of rubber if i jumped off the board onto a broken bottle.
