Hitting the bottom or an object will produce a better out come injury wise than catching a down wind rail .
Catching a down wind rail will tend to stop the equipment in front of you
and catapult you into the mast boom and sail........this is something to aviod ....because it will hurt ......... 
I remember one time, I was wearing a hat and dark sunglasses, and I did a huge, unexpected catapault. The hat & sunnies were ripped off, and as I landed on my back, looking up into the sun with my eyes still shut, everything was suddenly really bright...and for a moment I thought I was dead, and it was some kind of "white light" I was seeing...! I had a good laugh about it later but it was very real at the time!!! 
Yeah, the one I started this thread about went something like this:
. Super gusty day, 5 - 30 knots, more rain than air.
. First time on new sail (I'm sure only medium downhaul at most, long story)
. Me getting too ballsy and bearing off a lot.
I probably got hit by a gust coming from behind. This is the first and only time that a catapult has really, really hurt. Went to waterstart but the rig was no longer connected, the mast base quick release had come undone. I thought perhaps it was the cause but I most definately went ass over. Then I couldn't sink the board enough to reconnect and everything was blowing/bobbing around. Luckily there was a guy out on a tanker of a board we could reconnect it on.
Water started, went to hook in but spreader bar was bent 90 degrees (another spare for the list). End of day for me. Sailed back to beach to nurse headache.
eriee[}:)]it's like your eardrums just shut automatically
i had one of those cataloops when i got my bearings right after waterstarting again my mate told me the other lens was missing no wonder something's wrong with the light
dammit, and heres me thinking giving away competition motocross last year and taking on a water sport was gunna result in less dramatic wipe outs and injuries.
speaking of which am still recovering from a catapult into the mast 8 days ago
the neck braces used in motocross that ka555 suggested, like most things came about due to demand creating the supply, maybe the windsurfing world hasnt felt the requirement for such a device, to create a similar product. that said like motor sport other sports like this one are all getting faster and and maybe its only a matter of time before something similar comes available.... after all theres impact vests helmets etc all in common use now.
interesting point someone bought up about looking at the clew of the sail....
while i dont doubt it may work, im just trying to work out the effect looking at the clew has on the end result...........and if ill have time to think about doing it
Spotty, I'd like to see your neck brace that you have made and have been using, any chance of some pickies !!!!! 
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could'nt agree more, suffering from ankylosing spondilitis I should not even be windsurfing but love the sport more than any other, tuck your head into your chest and keep hold of the boom. I've been catapulted, landed on my back and had my head thrown back in the water jarring my whole spine. Took me half a carton to get back on my uneven keel
what's ankylosing spondilitis, I think that may bewhat I have fractured vertebrae which has moved out of alignment and squeezing the spine. In the future, I can look forward to nappies and ****ing myself as it gets worse.
Which is the biggest danger in speedsailing! From hardie i.e hit bottom or when yr rail digs in
Hardie wth out doubt the down wind rail stoping you in your tracks.This is where all the nasty injurys occur.....You just got no where to go......
You may as well run flat out into a power pole.......plusS theres the forward whip factor...... and the board rolling up your chinnnnns....... **** thats ......wrong.
PLUSS THE SAIL STICHING AND SEAMS ACTING LIKE RAZOR BLADES 
Cray ropes are often a real wake up and or ( killer) ..............Nov 15.
I HAVENT HIT A TURTLE YET BUT FKN HAD A FEW FLASH PAST......
If you know your taking on shallow water ..........your sort of ready
JUst perfect a nice turn onto your back while still holding onto boom and enjoy the ride. Works for me.
