Good to hear you got out James. I learnt a lesson myself. I tried to get the kona out about 10am. Wind too light, waves too big. Just as I was trying to get over the last impact zone, it glassed off and I was a sitting duck. Board and sail made there own way in and I had to do the big swim in. Lesson - I don't like that 
next time I might try launching at bashams
Faced the swim in from there last year out on a Sup/Sail in half the size and it certainly was a long swim as the gear went all the way to the beach, happened to me again recently at Fisheries when a set closed from Left to Right point and i was certainly glad to have a Dive wetsuit on as i could recover and cough up the ingested water without having to worry about swimming. From now on big conditions means Positive Bouyancy either by wetsuit or PFD, imagine copping a decent injury and having to try a swim in that!!
Yeah Zac, the bigger gear seem particularly good at making its own way ashore without you. I would have struggled big time on Sat with a cramp or injury added to the mix.
I broke a leggie on my SUP at Day st early this year.
Was over head high and took a **** load of effort to get out one of those low tide days and its breaking half a mile out to sea then a bombie set breaks right out the back and snap.
I was already stuffed and I had one of the most difficult swims of my surfing life getting back to the beach - I was about to abandon the paddle when two lovely young (female) clubbies in a rubber ducky offered me a lift - my board had washed up 20 mins earlier and no sign of the surfer.
Every time I got close to the shore the backwash would tow you back the 50 meters
Message to self - get swim fit or drown one day - and get a paddle strap to hang it of my leg.
oh the joys of big swell, light wind wavesailing james lol.
retailers love you die hards
is that ok in the surf ? or would the paddle just hit you when the next wave comes along ! Had a long swim with the paddle a few months ago, thought about leaving the paddle and then finding it later but didn't.
^^^^^ A few crew have commented on using their ankle strap to put the handle under to swim in. I have a length of velcro you can wrap around the handle and your leggie and swim - you may get clocked by the paddle in the shorel but if you have a few inches of free line its easier to swim than holding it in your hand or between ya legs.
Need a leggie with a meter of string that you pull out and off you go
