Strong Wind Advice

My arms are a little longer today after 4 hours sailing and swimming at Melville waters.
I found sailing through the gusts very difficult. One second I was planning next the wind dropped and I was stalling.
Any advice. I was using a 6.1 m sail.
Someone suggested changing the fins to give more lift.
Was it flexicat or eternalnoob who yelled out MADDOG as they sped past me and left me floating in their wake?
Great day Can't wait for the next set of strong winds.

Those conditions are always difficult. Whatever you rig will only be right some of the time. Keeping the nose of the board down in the gusts is important - mast track a bit forward, smaller fin, perhaps a weed fin. Then again a larger fin will help you get over the chop and prevent spin out. Just depends on identifying your problem... A smaller board will be easier to handle in the gusts but will stall in the lulls. Use plenty of down haul in your sail so it will exhaust better.

I managed to avoid face plants, but stalled when the wind dropped.
I usually wear a blue shirt when sailing and have a blue and green and pink KA 6.1 or 6.5 sail. One thing good about Melville waters you can always sail to the sand bar and have a rest. I try to sail South West of the car park. The water is flatter and it is not as deep.
I usually set up and pack up at the Tap and hose.
Look for the White DMAX ute.
I try to sail to the sand bar, attempt a gybe at the float. If I fail I can deep water start or swim to the sand bar.
I was hoping for a sail tonight but the wind looks a little light.

ggf
You were really going. Any idea what speed you were doing?
I can say it was not skill that kept me ontop of the water. I think my survival instincts took over. I have some good size calluses on my hands and I am aching in the elbow joints.

I drove out to Melville Waters around 3-ish and was very up and down. Suprised how flat the wind was near shore and was strong and gusty a 100m out. Drove to Peli point for a look and was a lot stronger and more consistent. Though lighter on the last run into shore nowhere as stupid as at Melville.

Sailed for 3 hours at Peli Point till could do no more on my trusty old 254 Tiga wave and 4.5m NP NR-Wave and was one of the fastest boards in these conditions! What a day! Of course had a couple of spectacular high speed falls and another after tackling the lip of a nice big bit of river swell but all good fun. But bits started hurting the next day that I thought I didn't use or hurt like my toes and fingers

You got some good speeds out there on Sunday Craw. I was keen to try out my newly (Saturday) purchased Reflex 4 6.2....it was awesome...super stable and comfy in the gusts...was on the X-F 90 with a Delta 27.

Bart...seat vs waist harness is personal preference...I've used seat harnesses (Da Kine XT Seat) for many years and find them comfortable.

Maddog...it was one of those days where you just need to put on a fin which feels comfortable...I too was stalling in the lulls but very comfortable in even the strongest gusts...to me comfort in those conditions is everything. Too big a fin would see you lifting off in the strong gusts.