let's revive this topic of many moons ago..i was in a hurry to join my mates on the water i felt something was slowing me down--my fin cover was still on
First sail of season last year. Howling. Rigged a small sail I don't use often. Half way out on first run in strong current, board starts bucking like a wild thing. Can't keep fin or board in water. Numerous water starts and long swim in strong current later, washed up on an island. Surveyed gear. Tightened downhaul as far as my jelly arms would let me. Sail still seemed awfully baggy, but couldn't see anything wrong - maybe it always looks like that and I've just forgotten with so long between sails? Back in water. Another wild ride and multiple water starts across a channel back to land. Long walk back to the car. Got my rig back to the car before I noticed that this sail has an adjustable mast top... that had slipped by about a foot! <big forehead slap>
Sorry - another one. Again, first sail of the season. Excellent forecast. So pumped and excited for a big sail. Drove 45 mins to favourite spot. Unload everything as quickly as possible. Rig sail. Get board out of bag. Uh oh... Zip stuck! Won't move! Try every tool available in the car. Carry board in bag to tap and run fresh water over it. Find leatherman under seat. Lying on ground wrestling with board in bag for about an hour. Time to put the pliers away and bring out the big guns. Standing over board with knife, preparing to permanently liberate board from bag. Take a moment to bid farewell to long serving bag. Suddenly feel drops of water on my face. Look up. Huge thunderstorm has come from no where. Wind has completely changed. Exchange expletives with thunder. Unrig and pack car. Drive home with loud angry music. I think this might have been the trip prior to the loose downhaul!
Looks like this thread has turned into "frustrating experiences of windsurfing".
Here's mine.
After a ten year break from windsurfing (young children) I still had all my old gear and decided to give it a go again.
Rigged up (a slow process as I had almost forgotten how), put on wetsuit, slapped on sunscreen, carried the board and rig into the water.
I was about to step on when the uni joint broke.
I didn't have time to get another and then go back for a sail before picking the kids up from school, so I had to just pack up and go home.
Didn't even get on the water.
- right down to the kids etc (thankfully i didnt give birth to 'em though) - that day lives in my mind. NE 15-20 knots bueatifull sunshine, lovely water and no shop open - it drove me nuts as my window for sailing is extremely narrow and led me to formula sailing which can be done anytime rather than waiting for decent conditions
Finished work early so went and checked out the wind.Conditions ideal, several others already rigging up.Dashed home to get my gear, unhitched mowing trailer and attached windsurfing trailer.Changed into board shorts, dived into car and drove 10 metres when the car came to a grinding halt.
Had only forgotten to take the security wheel clamp off of the trailer.
Lesson to be learnt here is to always attach your security device to the drivers side of trailer so that you can see it before driving off. Or better still get a lock that goes onto the tow ball.
Car already packed night before. Ready to go. SMS alert from Seabreeze, bid farewell to family and regular guests. Open garage door and back out into guests car.
I once took my gear on a trip, where we hired a yacht for a week.
The idea was to sail around while the wind was moderate, find a spot to anchor, and then go for a windsurf.
Day one we found this great little cove with a big stretch of flat water, so we anchored and I went below to get my gear, keen to get amongst it.....
I had left my mast at home...................
a few expletives may have been heard.
Taking my gear to Sydney between xmas and new year - great wind for the week but:
roads gridlocked to Gerroa after 1/12 hours and moving 5km past Wollongong on boxing day - went back to rellies and drank beer, went to Wanda -no car parks at wait for half an hour for someone to move out , finally get out there and there are so many people (looked like the population of Adelaide) boogie boarding in their pink G strings that when you got a wave there was no where to go.
Go to a flat water spot near airport -great wind - no parks, a million people on the beach - rubbish everywhere (but very nice friendly windsurf crew at both spots)
After this I just didn't bother going to the beach again.
need to go back out of peak holiday season - feel sorry for people who live there and put up with it all the time during holiday periods.
being lazy, not wanting to hitch trailer for a sail, grabbed what 'I thought' would be good kit for a thrash around Goolwa lake from said trailer, masts, board, sails etc everything I needed, drive to Goolwa (hours drive) rig up, found I have packed two mast tips, 430 and 400! packed everything up and drove home, two hours quality time with myself!
Going back to 1986, and it was a wednesday which meant the arvo spent doing organised activities (year 12). A teacher and a few of us were into windsurfing, so that was our activity. This day I was feeling a bit crook with a cold, so decided to not go out - there wasn't much wind anyway. It was very low tide at Hawley - down in the corner for those that know it - and after everyone rigged up the teacher, instead of parking his (old rusty ) Kingswood wagon up the beach a bit, told me to just move it up as the tide came in. Cool, no sweat. They sailed off around the point, I relaxed, until a seabreeze kicked in!! I had to go out then! I rigged up quickly, and sailed off around the point to catch up with the others. After a long while the teacher sailed near and said something along the lines of "you did move my car up the beach, didn't you?". Oh ****e, sailed back and it was submerged to above the level of the floor inside. I saw some heavy machinery nearby doing roadworks or something, and went and explained the situation to the backhoe operator - he drove his machine down and towed the car out. Was I a tad embarrassed or what? 
Mine seems boring after Easty's! I vaguely recall ( long time ago in the 80's)losing control of my board as I tried to put it on the car roof in a strong wind & having it blow into the car next door.Luckily not too much damage other than ego. Now everytime I go out in strong winds I tie sails to trees leave the board till last out etc..
I packed the car and drove 6hrs from Benalla to Lakes Entrance for 2 weeks camping and sailing. After setting up camp I went to the lake, began rigging up then realised I'd left the battons and daggerboard at home.;
Luckily, my uncle from Bairnsdale was camping with us and as a builder he had plently of plywood at home. The next morning he shaped me a new daggerboard while I wet and got battons from the sailing shop in Paynesville. Good enough to keep me happy.
I think I've forgotten everything. Not all at once, but nicely spread out for maximum effect.
I have developed OCD and it has helped.
same story, good wind, excited, decide to take small board, drive to beach, rig the sail, get the board ready but the screw is missing on the bl..dy fin, look everywhere in bag, car and else. No one to lend me one (hobart mid week), de-rig, drive home.
I look around no screw. I buy a new one.
Next time, same story, and when I put the fin on... the old screw is sitting there in the board ! It had been there the whole time...
, decide to take small board, drive to beach, rig the sail, get the board ready but the screw is missing on the bl..dy fin, look everywhere in bag, car and else. No one to lend me one (hobart mid week), de-rig, drive home.
overlooked the tightening of the screw..when zipping back and forth i noticed there was water peeing out of the screw and untightening itself and could see the bolt magically rock itself up..tried to slow down with all concentration just to get back before fin drops and the last 100mtrs..you know the ending
many years ago in a crowded rigging area, about 30 knots. All rigged up and turn around to get the board, my sail takes off flying through the air and comes down base first and penetrates another guys new board
A couple of times in recent years I have been all rigged and ready to go. Grab board and realise the deck plate is at home in the other board.
1. Jump things like Bouys and mooring ropes
2. Sail into submerged objects
3. Jump the wake of big boats... only to fall flat on your arse in the wind shadow. Yeah real impressive!!
4. Repetitively attempt vulcans and the likes in 1 foot of water
5. Go out on 100l board fully dressed and try to learn conka tacks
6. Continue sailing flat out in a rain squal with zero visibility and several other guys doing the same thing in the opposite direction
7. Leaving the car unlocked, windows open and keys in the ignition due too much excitment to get on the water
8. Planing up behind my mate and trying to get him to sit on nose of my board
9. Learning foward loops in front of loads of chicks in surf boats........
10. Thinking that the girls might be impressed!!
Oh yeah and the all time... Turn up late for a hot date because the sailing was too good!
long time ago ... 3rd yr in windsurfing ....
high wind condition in week day, very early in the morning ...
..... sail ALONE ...
far from shore .... the rig separated from the base ....
whole rig sank rapidly ....
paddled my bic board to the shore for 1 hr......
totally exhausted 
....
