Do all unis come with safety cord or webbing? Saw a guy who lost the bolt holding in the tendon when he was about 2 km offshore, westerly blowing and only Moreton Island in front of him. Luckily he had a safety cord.

No they dont, all depending on brand. When you sail that far out, u need to know some self rescue skills, n carry spare rope just in case hey. It will b silly not to. You sailing today kc? Me and Rhys r planning on a downwinder from brighton pass pelican (where we met yesterday) over to Suttons.

Gestalt Lungs & I planned to hit Suttons originally but we ended up at Queens kind of by accident. Mostly kites there but still ok. Hope the downwinder was good.

cheers for today lookkc,

was a good adventure.... will be back...

Not universals but related with the same outcome, if you use single bolt mast bases only use stainless nuts/plates. The brass T-pieces eventually wear out and will pull the thread, unlike a busted UJ you cant sail back to shore at all.

I have had my sail detached from the board only once.I busted a mast in the surf and started the long side swim back to the beach but as it was the point at Currumbin it is a 200m slog.A kind jetski surf rescue offered assistance.I said no its ok thinking it can't work.Eventually she convinced me that she could help and I stupidly accepted .I held the rig wit one arm and the jetski with the other while she attempted to four and quater me.After that she said lets try with just the sail.I had the words "never seperate the rig from the board " ringing in my head but did it anyway.We tried again with the same effect.I ended up swimming the whole way with breaking sets on the head holding the rig from sinking with the board floating out to sea but rescued by our heroine.The rig sank acouple of times so I upped the pace and arrived at the shorey with only a broken mask but no damage to the sail.I timed the shorebreak perfectly to put the spear through the luff ,dragged it up the beach and collapsed .A couple of teenagers brought my board and said smiling "that looked like fun".MOral of the story you don't want any degree of seperation.I have a cord wrapped around my harness bar and have used it another time to tie the kit together when broken mast.I now have a skinny.

hey rustle

there was an article once in the UK's boards mag on how to re-rig your sail with a broken mast, it might be on their web page. If they have still got the article up .....well worth a read, loads of useful tips to save your bacon and your gear.


whenever i've snapped a mast out at sea i've somehow managed to derig, save everything and paddle back in. It's a huge ballache though and noy very good to lie on a rolled sail while you paddle.

if you snap a mast or a uj... get a fellow windsurfer to slip the broken rig over his, help them waterstat then either paddle back in or get a tow off them.... i think it's quite east to do... but i have seen it done!!!!!!