Serious question.

Driving home today from a family picnic I am seeing everyone out on the water in 20kts of beautiful clean wind. I feel this creeping sensation under my skin, like brain freeze from as Slurpee but all over, and have to seriously concentrate not to speed.

Not meaning to be flippant, but isn't this the sort of sensation a junky gets when the drugs are wearing off?

I get bored of using the same sail and board everyday.

In medium to strong winds 18-25,windsurfing is about as close (on the water) as you are ever going to get to heaven.

My I-sonic 87 and a 5.5 in these conditions is so comfortable and fast!

My partner reckons I'm addicted.. He's a counsellor..

Mistral Nick said..
I suppose it is, how many barbeques and outings have you missed because "it may blow", how many hours have you spent at your local spot because the sea breeze may just come in. When you were learning did you almost rip your wetsuit trying to get it on in a hurry because there was a slight flutter on the water.
In a way the sport is social because you usually sail with people you have known for years but also in a way anti social because if it's blowing to hell with the lawns, the washing and vacuuming and a thousand other chores and commitments, there is the "need for speed" and salt water on the skin the rush as you get in the straps and sheet in, the flow of adrenalin and the release of endorphins, Yeehaa !!! Nothing else matters.

I couldn't have put it any better Nick

The reason I ask is I never get sick of it. Never. I started aged 13 back in 1983. I remember vividly the first time I got my brother's Bombora on the plane. I am 44, and I still have the sick feeling when I know its blowing and I can't get on the water. I read about drug addicts and it sounds the same. Ok so its not as extreme, but I really think its an addiction.

I start thinking up ways I can leave work early. I am brain washing my 2yo so as soon as he can, I can take him windsurfing and "babysit" at the same time.

PhilSWR said..
You know something is an addiction, when it's the very first thing you think of after sex...

What if you think of it during sex?

it a religion like a 7th day adventure.

When your windsurfing you think of nothing but sailing.
and when your doing everything thing else your still thinking of sailing.
that's an addiction

Sputnik11 said..
Serious question.

Driving home today from a family picnic I am seeing everyone out on the water in 20kts of beautiful clean wind. I feel this creeping sensation under my skin, like brain freeze from as Slurpee but all over, and have to seriously concentrate not to speed.

Not meaning to be flippant, but isn't this the sort of sensation a junky gets when the drugs are wearing off?

Its called F.O.M.O

Fear Of Missing Out.

Its a killer.

You know you're addicted when your wife says " for the love of God go sailing you re driving me crazy "

According to Google,

obsession-the state of being obsessed with someone or something.
addiction-the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance or activity.

I think that describes most windsurfers I know.

As Patrick says, "It's only an obsession to those that do not share your passion".
Your fellow addicts understand.

Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who developed a theory on human happiness and human needs. His theory says that needs of self-actualisation are met only when lower-level primal needs are satisfied.

He developed a so-called "hierarchy of needs", often shown as a pyramid. "Once the powerful needs for food, security, love and self-esteem are satisfied, a deep desire for creative expression and self-actualization rises to the surface."

A deep desire for creative expression and self-actualisation? Sounds like a generic definition of windsurfing to me. That's why we are addicted.


You may want to research more about Maslow's theories; they make quite interesting reading.

great topic, exact same thought entered my head recently , especially here in Qld where we are in a no wind zone currently..

Sadly those that are not addicted don't and will never understand

I feel for those that have never experienced our highs

I have a theory that if all the world windsurfed it would be a much better place


And not to make light of the terrible situation of someone who has become or is addicted to drugs, but they get all sorts of assistance from us taxpayers to try and help them through their ordeal, there are counsellors, hospitals, programs, education programs, alternate drugs...they even get some of the stuff for FREE! WTF do we get??? Squat Diddly!
Like them we had a choice, no one taped a boom to our hands and pushed us onto a board at 20knts!

I can occasionally can be found messing around in the other drugs,
namely Kiting & SUP for example...but NONE of them give the same kick or high as 20+knots sailing a board and sail ...you'd think kiting would, especially with bigger airs etc.. but it's not quite the same.. "it's a bit like a date with Mrs Palmer...gets you by for a little while, but you still end up earning for the real deal!"

I move that we petition government to provide free taxpayer funded windsurf shelters, places where counselling can be given in times of big lulls, massage and physio for the after windy week recovery, free hire gear (latest) would be available for those 'in between times' when you couldn't source your own, free cash grants given to update gear, this will avoid needless crime/robbery by those needing more funds, we could start a 'windjuary' campaign each January to raise awareness in the nation, raise funds, I'm seeing national rock concerts to raise the profile, trashy B grade Celebs offering their support in telemercials and newspaper advertising.

...sorry ..off topic...

Addiction ...Nahhh

I think the key word in this debate is adrenaline.

You become addicted to the adrenaline rush you get when sailing in planing conditions, more so if waves are involved.

It's the best fun you can have "standing up".

Just my two cents worth.

When you are planning, the body releases endorphins which is the human body's home made opiate. We become addicted to the wonderful sensation of the endorphins acting on the pleasure senses in the brain. The mind recognises the stimuli that precedes the release of endorphins like moving trees, wind on the water and green on a seabreeze forecast and anticipates the coming high. It's definitely an addiction