Well done Flex!  Have you experienced wind failure in mid channel, at feeding time for the bull sharks as you frantically try to water start in the darkness and stillness as the moon rises from the east?  Many have.

That is a big enough board to uphaul if necessary

Reg, thats why I almost always stay on the sandbank mostly and as far south as possible tide permitting to get longest runs (water is flatter too).  Gear or wind failure means just a long walk back as opposed being stranded.  I have an apple watch to call for help if it comes to it as a backup plan.  The 8.6 Turbo is also far easier to uphaul than the 7.8 Overdrive and simple as on the big board.  By definition I wouldn't be out on the big gear if there was much wind and I can water start in no time with smaller sails.  The Overdrive I just can't waterstart so I don't even bother trying now.  Pretty sure that not going to get many NM or hr PB's at Melville compared to spots in Albany/Mandurah etc so not much point trying to do extended runs, so just treat it as recreation/exercise/Alpha practise area.  You probably see that I go out in most wind conditions, even almost nothing in order to practice how slow I can go in order to be able to safely limp out of most situations..same goes for high wind..try to at least have a go in order to improve or at least survive.