# Downwind safety
**URL:** https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640
**Category:** Downwind Foil
**Tags:** safety
**Created:** [March 6, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640 "2023-03-06T18:06:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 8
### Author:  [@anto](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/anto)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/144 "2026-07-10T16:29:19Z")
> [@Eriefoiler](#):
>
> In the water solo - I float face down and use my other hand to pull my arm down
That’s some hardcore stuff. I’m sure SUP paddling has made you develop more shoulder muscle, did it help with stabilization of the joint?
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### Author:  [@Eriefoiler](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Eriefoiler)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/145 "2026-07-10T16:43:23Z")
I’m sure paddling helps! In general a baseline amount of weight training keeps it feeling good / supported. I had about 10 dislocations arround COVID time - every now and then it gets a bit hung up nowadays, but mostly don’t think about it anymore.
My litmus test is can I sleep facedown with my arms over my head without feeling like it’s gonna come out haha
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### Author:  [@FoilGraham](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/FoilGraham)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/146 "2026-07-10T20:25:02Z")
Nightmare fuel:
Another reason to pack that Tourniquet.
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### Author:  [@Matt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2026, 5:58am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/147 "2026-07-11T05:58:01Z")
It would seem that the Mistral France region is the best shark adjusted downwind destination
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### Author:  [@Matt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2026, 7:58am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/148 "2026-07-17T07:58:33Z")
Possibly the most important safety equipment is a parawing? It’s not useful in all scenarios, but I can imagine being a highly competent parawinger would be an excellent safety strategy in many safety situations. (eg [foil falls off mid channel crossing](https://www.instagram.com/p/Da4CA7ggsPT/), and you can still parawing to get to safety)
It’s also large so increases your visibility. Any thoughts against this? Seems pretty sensible
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### Author:  [@anto](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/anto)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2026, 12:32pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/149 "2026-07-17T12:32:05Z")
The canary islands has some sharks but are not known to cause attacks and have strong trade winds too. They’d rank pretty high on that scale
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### Author:  [@Dontsink](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Dontsink)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/150 "2026-07-17T19:31:21Z")
Mmm…last year in Fuerteventura.
> **[Un tiburón ataca a un hombre en Fuerteventura](https://www.abc.es/espana/canarias/tiburon-ataca-hombre-fuerteventura-20250722135640-nt.html)**
>
> Según han declarado sus acompañantes, la mordida es una herida superficial; lo llevaron al hospital por sus propios medios
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### Author:  [@seawing](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/seawing)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/151 "2026-07-17T19:40:07Z")
Without floatation I think you’ll have a difficult time launching that parawing while treading water. (Speaking from experience breaking a board leash while parawinging)
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### Author:  [@Slappy](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Slappy)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/152 "2026-07-17T23:04:51Z")
I do some dockstart PW in marginal winds sometimes and it’s not too hard to launch while swimming. In a clean 10 knots or more it’s pretty easy.
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### Author:  [@Matt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2026, 6:17am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/153 "2026-07-18T06:17:29Z")
Fuertaventura
Looks a small shark 🦈
> [@seawing](#):
>
> Without floatation I think you’ll have a difficult time launching that parawing while treading water.
Yes I think the biggest safety risk by far for downwind is losing your board. I think leash snapping is underrated risk, and if it does you could be in serious trouble, parawing will be useless too
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### Author:  [@Dontsink](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Dontsink)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2026, 6:44am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/154 "2026-07-18T06:44:03Z")
A Mako they think. From 2 to 3m long.
Big enough for me 🙂
> **[El ataque de un tiburón en Fuerteventura se queda en un susto: "Le tocó la...](https://www.fuerteventuradigital.com/articulo/canarias/mordida-tiburon-fuerteventura-queda-susto/20250721145623007340.html)**
>
> La mordida de un tiburón a un joven deportista en la costa oeste de Fuerteventura se salda con unos puntos y antibióticos. Alba Frey e Iballa Ruano form...
I just spent 20 days over there, sharks are not a concern but…they are always around.
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### Author:  [@Slappy](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Slappy)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2026, 7:05am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/155 "2026-07-18T07:05:20Z")
Good thing he wasn’t on a hollow board!
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### Author:  [@Erwin\_VMG](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Erwin_VMG)
#### Post date: [July 19, 2026, 5:40am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/156 "2026-07-19T05:40:20Z")
great tips from Josh Ku 🙏🇺🇸 🇺🇸
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is0sNCV9A0s)
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### Author:  [@FoilGraham](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/FoilGraham)
#### Post date: [July 19, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/157 "2026-07-19T12:00:50Z")
That’s gotta be the 5th KT board I’ve seen chomped! Definitely need to change that paint job. Confusing the poor sharks with the red flashes on silver.
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### Author:  [@Hdip](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Hdip)
#### Post date: [July 19, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/158 "2026-07-19T14:32:55Z")
And the new paint job is yum yum yellow.
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### Author:  [@rycpt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/rycpt)
#### Post date: [July 19, 2026, 4:52pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/159 "2026-07-19T16:52:30Z")
> you don’t hear of more instances of people needing rescue or help because of having no PFD
No PFD leads to being “found”, not rescued.
I sink like a rock. Can not imagine going offshore with nothing but a little leash next to a blade keeping me alive.
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### Author:  [@FoilMad](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/FoilMad)
#### Post date: [July 19, 2026, 9:31pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/160 "2026-07-19T21:31:23Z")
Could it be that shiny silver colour?
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### Author:  [@Matt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2026, 12:51pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/161 "2026-08-11T12:51:24Z")
re sharks:
> **[5.1K views · 67 reactions | Great white bite a downwinder’s board, one and a...](https://www.facebook.com/reel/1604748707971766)**
>
> Great white bite a downwinder’s board, one and a half miles off shore near Santa Claus lane.
>
> Via @sentientbeing66
> ?8/
Seems some merit in this idea that it’s KT boards getting hit
Also the [comments](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZNH4MepPaM/) on the shiny fishing lure looking AFS titanium fuse
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### Author:  [@Gonefoiling](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Gonefoiling)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/162 "2026-08-11T17:02:03Z")
Sharks are color blind, they lack lack teh ability to see red, green, and blue
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### Author:  [@jbwiden](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/jbwiden)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/163 "2026-08-11T17:27:53Z")
Those boards do have some distinct patterns as well. But yeah I’m unsure if it matters…
The bite shown above occurred after the foiler unavoidably hit the shark.
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