Forums > Windsurfing General

Safety tips for windsurfing, show me yours and I will show you mine

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Created by Kasper79 > 9 months ago, 23 Apr 2021
Kasper79
124 posts
23 Apr 2021 3:32AM
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What is your best windsurf safety tip?

Here is mine:

mikey100
QLD, 1098 posts
23 Apr 2021 10:13AM
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Never sail alone... and don't leave if one person is still out alone at end of the day.

duzzi
1120 posts
23 Apr 2021 11:38AM
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Kasper79 said..
What is your best windsurf safety tip?

Here is mine:







Wow! That is so smart!!!!!! I am sure that nobody has thought about it before! bring a piece of rope to fix things!!!!!

Sandman1221
2776 posts
23 Apr 2021 11:51AM
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good tip, thanks, have always thought a piece of rope would be good to tow someone, but that is a more probable reason to have some rope.

kato
VIC, 3507 posts
23 Apr 2021 4:54PM
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mikey100 said..
Never sail alone... and don't leave if one person is still out alone at end of the day.


I'd never sail and people might never get home if they waited for me to come in.

powersloshin
NSW, 1836 posts
26 Apr 2021 6:53AM
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Don't sail at night !! It's irresponsible !

mikey100
QLD, 1098 posts
26 Apr 2021 7:43AM
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kato said..

mikey100 said..
Never sail alone... and don't leave if one person is still out alone at end of the day.



I'd never sail and people might never get home if they waited for me to come in.


And that's why we have never sailed together.

Shifu
QLD, 1992 posts
26 Apr 2021 9:55AM
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It's not always (or even often) possible to sail with others so:
-Change UJ tendon often
-Use carbon booms
-Try to keep your runs short after sunset (I often fail at this one but it's a good idea)

mathew
QLD, 2133 posts
26 Apr 2021 10:25AM
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Dont sail further away from the shoreline than you are prepared to swim... while it is blowing 25kn. For me, that is about 1km max, which is still likely to take me 1-2 hours.

Sandman1221
2776 posts
26 Apr 2021 8:34AM
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If you have a sandbar between you and deeper water, go at low tide, that way waves break on sandbar leaving fairly smooth water between the beach and bar. At high tide the waves go over the bar and into the channel between the bar and shore where they can pound your equipment especially on the beach.

duzzi
1120 posts
26 Apr 2021 9:58AM
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mathew said..
Dont sail further away from the shoreline than you are prepared to swim... while it is blowing 25kn. For me, that is about 1km max, which is still likely to take me 1-2 hours.


If you want to be safe carry a VHF radio with GPS positioning ... and do not leave your board. Few people can swim in open ocean for half a Km. How many of us have done that recently in a swimming pool? In 25 knots I doubt anybody can swim one Km. Maybe if your destination is straight downwind and there is no swell. But ... again ... be safe: do not leave your board! Ever!

remery
WA, 3709 posts
26 Apr 2021 10:14AM
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I have my bit of rope wrapped around the impact vest shoulder strap.

Also have a plan for if the tendon breaks. I've looped my downhaul around the mast base and carefully sailed in with no damage to the board.

P.C_simpson
WA, 1491 posts
26 Apr 2021 5:44PM
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mathew said..
Dont sail further away from the shoreline than you are prepared to swim... while it is blowing 25kn. For me, that is about 1km max, which is still likely to take me 1-2 hours.


Yep that a big +1 from me

kato
VIC, 3507 posts
26 Apr 2021 7:53PM
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powersloshin said..
Don't sail at night !! It's irresponsible !


So alone, at night, sleep deprived and over 30kts is a no no then.

RuaraidhK257
70 posts
26 Apr 2021 6:22PM
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+1 to most of these, buts here's a lesser safety tip that I wish I knew before I broke my foot: screw the sides of your footstraps in as close together as you can get and then loosen them on top, so they're snug at the sides but you can move your feet up and down easily. 99% of the time you'll be away to get your feet out no bother, and you massively reduce the chances of your feet getting twisted.

Wet Willy
TAS, 2317 posts
26 Apr 2021 10:31PM
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Keep an eye on the conditions.
Go upwind first.

Don't sail drunk

Sea Lotus
320 posts
26 Apr 2021 11:01PM
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Thinking about getting a waterproof backpack, those very small ones look comfortable enough unless you are topless.

I wish some wetsuits came with waterproof cell phone pocket.

Manuel7
1318 posts
27 Apr 2021 4:51AM
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Foam ear plugs cut in half to protect ear drums.
1m long downhaul line in board shorts pocket (excuse to wear them over shortie wetsuit).

Used to have a whistle, helmet and life jacket when I sailed alone in cold water hours away from civilization.

Various more tips and tricks including some technique:
windsurfing.lepicture.com/tips-and-tricks/

Also, in general, concentrate your new move technique early on then ease out and when tired (failing transitions) give up, there'll be more wind tomorrow...



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"Safety tips for windsurfing, show me yours and I will show you mine" started by Kasper79