Good session but ended up getting rescued  I was in a 'relatively' safe harbour/estuary but it was not fun to say the least. 

Went out just before high tide (4.4m) with wind 20 - 30knots SW, air temp was 11degC. The plan was a quick session due to the cold conditions.

Super steep chop, turned even more so when the tide changed (tide now against wind) and wind increased. To maintain board control I was heading up in the gusts and down in the lulls, but it was fun!  ended up doing this more an more as the wind increased, I just could not find a good line to take downwind in the chop. After an hour I was 3km upwind from where i launced and decided I must concentrate on getting back. Had a few hairy off the wind runs waaaaaay overpowered, then some runs out of the foot straps, then some out of footstraps and harness. I guess it was inevitable, but sail got blown out of my hands and entire kit cartwheeled off into the distance. I swam as fast as I could freestyle and almost reached it before it took off again. I was spent and gave up trying to chase the gear and tried calming my self down as my breathng had become too fast and panic had kicked in.  This was my first time I had ever used a buoyancy vest and was glad to have it, but can't help wondering how much slower I was swimming freestyle with it?  After 30mins? of swimming side stroke I caught upto my gear! I floated with it for a bit of rest then sailed towards the nearest shore where a fellow windsurfer was waiting for me!  THANKYOU Windsurf Nelson!  My wife was also there as I hadn't turned up at home when I said I would.  It was about 1hour of sailing and 2 hours of trying to get back in cold conditions. 

The wind had backed off once I got home, but the habour wind conditions were showing 30knots AVE withs gust of 45knots, so I guess that explains the problem, too much wind, not windsurf fit (blame Covid)  = exhaustion before it would normally happen.  I will make a habit of staying closer to the launching spot in the future! 

Stay safe out there everyone. 

nelson Haven - High tide.

Wind SW 20 to 45+ knots. KA Koncept 5.4, IS87, C3 Venom 29. 70kg Sailor.