So I’m still learning and I’ve found myself stuck in high winds a couple times. In these conditions the only direction I manage to sail is very close to the wind (if at all). Any change to go down wind from there invites all sorts of hell.
I noticed, and today used a technique where you stand upright, holding the uphaul, with the sail on the water, more or less be blown directly down wind.
What other techniques are there to sail these situations (besides punching a big hole in your sail, which I accidentally did last time I was in these conditions, worked a treat)?
Cheers,
The classic emergency position would be to stand on the board, keep the sail vertical but not sheeted in, and just use it as a rudder to point downwind the way you want to go. A couple of times I used the waterstarting position, but with both feet on the board, you drift downwind pretty quickly.
To be in control downwind and overpowered try to build your speed, then bear off very deep. Actually try and bear off and get used to the speed every time you go sailing, eventually will be easier in windy conditions.
I used to have exactly the same problem. This is what it solved for me:
- Don't sheet the sail fully in as you are doing now but allow the sail to open to have less pressure in it. Try to have no pressure on the backhand.
- right stance is vital. Front leg fully straight, back leg bent
- your arms should be fully straight and the pressure on your hands still be as minimal as possible (no death grip)
Both will still lead to you being really fast. But if you committ to the harness and speed you will find that you can now sail in winds comfortably where before you would have felt overpowered. The stance and grip is still the same in lower winds, start practising it and move into higher winds with it.
Bear away, sheet in, hang on! 
Just holding the uphaul doesn't really let you sail. Try having your front hand right next to the mast, and your back hand only about 30cm behind it. This will allow you to let the sail out as far as you like, but you are still sailing and can steer in the normal manner. You may find you need to put your front foot closer to the mast, which can be uncomfortable since you probably still want your back foot in the rear strap if it's a big wind, but at least it gets you home. I've had to do this a couple of times sailing in 50+ knots with a 4.7, and the amazing thing was that you could remain planing on a beam reach with the sail only sheeted in about 5 degrees from square.
As above but I'll add being overpowered while heading downwind, especially in big chop, invites catapults. The best thing to do is simply head in and rig down.
If you're talking "oh my god I'm going to actually die" survival then continue sailing close to the wind and just head for land. Body drag/water start position as a last resort.
As for continuing to sail these conditions, gybing when overpowered, I gotta practise strap-to-strap gybes. I've noticed the people that know what they're doing use these when overpowered. Looks like you keep your feet attached to/on the board all the way through the choppy, bouncy part of the turn. For too many years my local had smooth gybing areas that invited long, drawn out power gybes. They don't work in chop.
