Strongest winds yet

After some very early morning downpours, the sun came out and the wind just built up again from the SW. High tide at 4:46pm, so I took the board and the boys to Surfdale just after 4pm. I could barely cary the board onto the beach as it kept wanting to flip over and get airborne. I rigged the 5.4 in the protection of the Surfdale playground, then slid out into the open and attached board and sail. I was absolutely overpowered the entire time. I made some broad reaches that were probably speed records for me, around 25 to 30 mph--the skeg was the only thing touching the water at times. Speaking of skeg: some major (MAJOR) problems with spin-out and then "tripping" of the leeward rail when trying to correct by squatting down and pulling with the footstraps to get the board offwind again. I had a couple 10 second "sideways" runs, still at very high speeds. The surf was the highest yet. True breakers, crashing from 10 to 50 m out. Several sinus cleansing crashes. Two successful jibes--many wild attempts with the board carving crazy eights. Three other sails showed up: Mark, Ole (?), and the "Dad with daughters". I don't think Mark got far. Something wrong with the rig? He sat a while in the shallows, battered by waves. Someone was catching great air on a very small board (and probably a 4.8 or 5.0 sail). I was the only aircraft carrier with the Fanatic Shark weighing in at 9 feet 6 and 125 L. Several times while preparing for water starts the windward edge of the board caught air and just flipped the entire rig over. I need a smaller board--I could manage the 5.4, but the board....

Nik and Isaac played great on the playground and beach--but they were both upset that I came in so late and didn't check in (I only made visual checks from the water). I told Nik it was actually hard to get to the beach, and he called me on the "onshore wind" card--but I had to explain that the big board points upwind--and I spent more than one 15 min session in the water waiting out strong gusts and breakers (and re-jibing the sail multiple times in preparation for the water-start). I left the board on the lawn where the other three sailors were, and we hurried home to make dinner. While the kids were brushing their teeth and reading stories, I went to get the rig. I told Nik I'd be right back, and the quick witted kid said I'd probably go out for a night time ride (joking on the square at that age?!) No moon anyways. De-rigged and back in 15 min (so nice to live close to the beach). Snuggled kids to bed and feeling done in myself. Another gash above the knee (the other knee), and I saw when it happened--it was the rail of the board during a waterstart. Wind still howling as the kids sleep and the dishwasher hums.