My girlfriend has asked about learning to windsurf.
That the thought of her going through the "catapult phase" gives me the willies. I did a fair few of those and suffered some real pain. It has been a long time since I started out and my first short board was a trippy mid 1990s slalom board totally inappropriate for the purpose.
Is the catapult still a problem for new sailors today or has modern gear made it less likely? Is it possible to select gear/boards that will make those full on 20 knt crashes a bit more unlikely?
Yes, it's still a problem. Whether or not it's become less of an issue due to new kit is something I can't answer, but I would imagine that newer, more forgiving sails have reduced the risk.
Catapulting is a technique issue anyway, so just make sure you give her some tips.
If she wants to windsurf...she WILL catapult. All you can do is minimise the damage by teaching her the basics of 'how' to catapult safely (if that is actually possible 
).
Personally, the fun I get from windsurfing is worth every single catapult I've had! And I've had a few...
The catapult can be enjoyed....one just has to accept the inevitibilty that you might break something..either gear or yourself.......or not.
Its a bit like flying..once the plane is screaming down the runway
theres not a lot you can do about it if something goes wrong.
The last couple of times I catapulted ...a while ago now (touch wood)
I am sure i experienced that "incredible lightness of being"..even a sort of out of body experience..before smacking into the water.
I remember thinking...that was kind of nice....I think I want to do that again........
With the advent of smaller faster boards, the chance of hitting the front of the board has been reduced. However hitting the water at greater speed, well..it's always a trade off. 
so, whats everyones advice for the perfect catapault....
heres mine
1. sheet in to power up as soon as you start getting over poweder
2. turn up your toes to lock yuorself in your foot straps
3. at lift off - release the boom and assume the superman position / sign of the cross
4. smile - someone on the beach may be filming you - make it look like you are loving it
Whats really funny tho is ppl who are trying to do forwards are basdically doing catapults on purpose :)
good call....
so the revised how to:
1. raise book as high as it will go
2. fully extend harness lines
3. sheet in to power up as soon as you start getting over powered
4. stand upright and move weight inboard
5. turn up your toes to lock yuorself in your foot straps
6. at lift off - release the boom and assume the superman position / sign of the cross
7. smile - someone on the beach may be filming you - make it look like you are loving it
and 8 : Decide whether you want the clear jelly fish as entree or mains with the brown jelly fish on the side...
It's much more fun when you are still hooked into the harness lines, and it turns you around the boom mid air and you land softly on the sail...
as Kiwi bro says it is 'inevitable' maybe that scared him to the point he got catapulted and bruised his rib..well that's windsurfing any sport has it's own catapult
).
yes, the boom is a limb breaker. ouch!
here's my tips for catapult from hell.
do a chop hop.
move your body over the board while in the air
sheet in and keep head looking forward
Other than a bit of whiplash aren't you fairly safe from harm if you keep hold of the boom?
Hmm, looks like it will be unavoidable for her. Call me an old softy, but the thought of my girl being catapulted across the drink at 20 knots is somewhat unsettling.
) and crash landed on my mast resulting in a hard "corked" thigh... Very well done !
