Just noticed this post from a windsurfing mag forumhttp://forums.windsurfingmag.com/showthread.php?s=f98ad5cb982343eb38fe51b98fc706ea&t=568
Sad situation. At least he past doing what he loved
Agree, a very sad situation and a real tough break for his family.
Guys and Girls, what ever you do, re purchase of gear, get yourself a helmet and a form of a life vest/buoyancy vest. They may not look real cool/flash, but it improves the survival rate just that bit extra, should you come unstuck in any way while out playing.
I haven't seen any report to the effect that it was a head injury yet, what was the real cause of death?
I think we'd all be surprised how big a proper life jacket would be that could keep you alive if you were unconscious at sea in a big swell and chop. I wear a buoyancy aid which is as big as I've seen any windsurfer wear so far, but it won't save me. A helmet and buoyancy vest might help, but probably not if trapped under the sail.
For me, the safest things I can do is not get too out of my depth in various ways. I may not be challenging myself in many ways, but I know there is a very good chance I'll be home for dinner, and that is more important to me.
Poor buggar,
Its gets dangerous for those around me when I havn't been out for over a week, Like now with a new board still very dry.[}:)][}:)][}:)]
wsmike on iWindsurf.com talking about wearing a helmet: "Its not much of a fashion statement but models aren't really known for their intelligence are they?"
Good call I reckon. Even though I only wear my helmet on really cold days to keep my head warm...
Anyhow, someone please update this thread as soon as we know what happened. I agree with the jacket thing: I suspect it doesn't help much if unconscious, esp. in waves and swell. I find it gets in the way (not that I ever wore one) when stuck under the sail in certain conditions.
Well I really feel for that Scott fella who found him and all he went through to help.
Helmet - always wear one, unless it's a small wave float out day or big rig blasting.
Bouyancy Aid - these DON'T turn you over or support your head if you're unconscious, so they'd hardly help. A life jacket would be far too cumbersome to use.
I was at Lake Garda 3 weeks ago and you have to wear a bouyancy aid otherwise you get a fine. It was a nightmare windsurfing in it to be honest and the local shops are trying to change the laws so you won't have to wear them.
Key thing is to keep on eye out for ANYONE in distress not just your sailing buddies.
As an inexperienced windsurfer I spend a lot more than my fair share of time swimming/trying to position my board my rig for the waterstart that will probably not eventuate.
If I see guys sailing by and they are looking in my direction I will give the THUMBS UP sign.
I have said on an earlier forum that learners should tie a couple of meters of survey tape at the top of their mast so everybody can keep a lookout for them.
This may also help avoid the chance of collision from any unpredicted manouver or stack.
We get quite a bit of thunder & lightning storms here. Last year, the lightning came really close to shore and a girl got stuck by it just outside the bay area. Luckily she had a buoyancy vest on, and that kept her afloat till the rescue boat came. She was floating faced-down on the water unconscious for a long while I was told, but thankfully she survived.
That said, still not many people use a buoyancy vest here. I agree it's cumbersome and there is already too many items to put on.
I reckon most windsurfers keep an eye on fellow sailors even if its not being done consciously.
For example...........say your sailing along on a run at Kyeemagh, your attention is automatically drawn to anybody in the water, be it water starting, resting etc. A quick glance is all it takes to register that he/she is OK.
Its harder in the surf but usually the sailors are concentrated in smaller area and the water shallower.
Ive spotted what I thought was someone in trouble but on sailing over and having a squiz the guy was waiting for a gust to get going.
Just keep an eye out and this should help.
It's a sad part of life but everybody dies.You cannot control how or when.When it's your turn , it's your turn...game over.
You don't put a helmet and a flame retardent suit on every time you get into a car do you? If you don't why not? Someone dies in a car nearly every day...
Accidents happen.
I think assessing the conditions to your ability is the equivilent of putting your seat belt on.
There are pros and cons for helmets.The pros are obvious.The cons however are the reduced level of awarness caused by the buffetting affect on your ears and foggy salt sprayed visors.
I would like to wear one but these factors i can't deal with.
Saw a bloke skin his nose with a helmet one day.I think the back of the helmet got caught on something and it pushed down onto the bridge of his nose hard.Looked rather nasty...
A bouyancy vest might not save you if you get knocked out but they would surely help you to maintain some energy if you were forced to make a really big swim for any number of reasons.
I reckon one of the low profile ones like the Neil Pryde high hook vest look the go. They look like they wouldnt be too restrictive. Gonna get me one.
How you risk assess your sport changes with age and family. I windsurfed 20 years with out ever using buoyancy or god forbid a helmet. But now with kids and other things to look out for your attitude adjusts as required. I'm now wearing a low profile pfd unless its a drifter and a helmet for the 25+ days. My pfd has a couple of zipper pockets too that are real handy for stashing the gps and a couple of tools / mars bar. Now that its second nature to take the gear it takes some of that worry away and lets you enjoy the days sail more. Works for me anyway
Having recently got back into windsurfing after a really long break I have realised that my bouyancy aid is actually a really good aid to waterstarting - it gives me more floatation as I push up on the rig to clear it from the water, resulting in me getting less tired. I use a seat harness so it isn't in the way at all.
On helmets, I never get on my pushbike without my helmet, have recently bought one for skiing after 40 seasons without using one and some hella crashes over the years, including once landing halfway up a tree! I have also bought one for windsurfing and besides being warm I figure that the body can heal from most blows but hard knocks to the old swede are not always so easy to recover from. I really want to still be doing this stuff when I'm 100 so I value taking care of my health.
and I thought my Gath helmet was just for keeping the sun off my bald patch.
But it has also saved me from quite a few lumps on the old melon...
what is the most common style of Gath helmet that is used for windsurfing? Anyone? I am going to get one.
Many years ago I got a Gath after I blew an eardrum after going a-up on a gybe at speed. But I never wear it, I hate it for some of the reasions stribo mentioned, it's just not for me. I love the freedom of windsurfing in the elements without enclosing myself in extra gear, I'm lucky I don't even have to wear a wetty etc. It's a risk I take but I love it 
If you feel the need for a helmet, they are deff a good idea, whatever it takes to enjoy what you do is all good
I've got a yellow Gath thats about 15 years old and its now stuffed. I dropped in the ground by accident/carelessness and there is a big crack in the middle going right up.
I'll buy another one as they are great when going fast or keeping warm.
Apparently the guy who died was sailing in "overpowered 3.2 conditions"...
It's hard to imagine sailing in that kind of wind without the occasional really nasty crash. I guess those guys over there are used to it, but still...I'd definitely be thinking about safety gear if I were sailing there.
The problem with helmets is finding something that still gives a sense of freedom, ie doesn't restrict your hearing or vision and isn't heavy.
I have a newish Gath helmet with removable ear covers, (which I've taken off and never used), so no dulling of hearing, and no visor which I would only scratch and which seemed unnecessary anyway. It is light and comfortable and I hardly know it is there, except this time of year it keeps me warmer.
My job involves working with old people and I see a lot of them getting treated for skin cancer on their heads, so definitely a bonus wearing a helmet in summer too.
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Crap!
If I had walked out into traffic yesterday with my eyes closed, I'd be dead now. But I didn't, and I'm alive.
How do you know our "numbers" are selected at birth?? Is everything we do in life predetermined?
If you had walked into traffic yesterday with your eyes open.You are still taking a risk by going into the traffic.....So a car looses control and takes you out anyway.It's no ones fault not the drivers or yours.But your dead anyway.
Your number was up.....
But this didn't happen so your number isn't up but it is definatly there.
thanks, I have snow boarded for many years and had a number of 'knock outs' and massive stacks blood & all.
I wore a helmet for the first time last year and had no issue at all with. Gave me some of the old dare devil confidence back that has dwindled over the years with age. I will have to nip on down to windsurf n snow and give one whirl for those 20 + days.. 
I have a NP high hook vest and its sweet, does not get in the way at all.
Wish I was on the water this afternoon dam it!
