This is my experience I posted here back in October 2008 when I first sailed a short board (no centre board) + planed, all in the first session.

"3rd sess, things clicked, and I was planing !. I was going along straight (I must have fluked the bearing away -- "bow & arrow"). The wind picked up, the front of the board came out of the water, there was another gust.. and then there was a big.. BIG F.O. !! surge in speed. I was probably only going ~20km/h, but it's the fastest speed I've been on a windsurf :). I pissed myself laughing when this happned. You guys didn't hear it, but I was laughing manic like a kook. I haven't experienced a sensation like this since I popping my first decent wheelie on 80HP sports bike in my early 20's."

A distant memory now. Planing around too much was a real problem for me as a beginner.

Cluffy said..
When I have to describe windsurfing to non sailors I tell them it's just like motorcross, speed, jumps, bumps and turns. Except when I fall off I go splash instead of splat. Usually.

Tell my hand that..
( got smashed by the boom when it got ripped out of my hands pre gybe yesterday)..still worth it though!

I remember I had been trying so hard for months to get planing that when I finally did, and came to end of run, I dropped the sail, raised my arms in air and tears came into eyes.

Better than sex!

It is so good I am selling my big yacht to get a smaller one with planning ability!

orgasmic

joewindsurfer.blogspot.com/2011/04/is-windsurfung-as-good-as-sex.html

You have to include the word exceptionalism. Many times while windsurfing you can see many people watching and enjoying what they are seeing.
So you have to feel kind of exceptional knowing how few of us there really are, and how the vast masses haven't a clew but wish they did.
I even have kiting friends who have never windsurfed, but wished they had the patience to go thru the learning curve that is much longer than that for kiting.

From memory, the first time it happened my board shorts turned brown.

On or off the water, its my happy place.

You guys make it sound like some kind of drug. Or you're on something while writing your reply. Ok then let's keep following that track. Peaceful mellowed out replies so you fellas must be smoking cannabis. So I get a real buzz out of being overpowered and not just going fast but really skating on the edge of loosing all control. My adrenaline is peaking, my jaw clenches, my arms and legs are rigid and at the moment of loosing it grunting like I'm trying to snap one off.Oh boy I must be some kind of junkie on something much harder like speed or acid or something like that. Crikey is there any windsurfing rehab facilities in the area?.I think I need help, maybe you guys should set up an intervention or at least some kind of counciling service.

For me it's just about living in the moment. You can't be thinking about work or other stuff.... Just about keeping your sail locked in and your fin gripping... I spun out doing 25kts last weekend and managed to let my body go with the flow, got back over the top of the tail and gripped up again.... I've been living that moment over and over again in my head. I can't describe the feeling except the word, "stoked".

Getting onto the plane and bearing off wind onto some flat water is like driving down a bumpy dirt road then finally getting to some good quality asphalt.

cammd said..
Freedom

I just love the whole windsurfing thing- driving down with my music on, talking to other like minded people, having the time to be free on the water..

This is how I would describe planning ---- How cool was that, have to figure out how to get MORE OF THAT Woo Hoo

Do I need to turn around and go back to shore or can
I just keep going?

The feeling of planing/blasting can only be shared with others that have experience it.

I remember back when I started (although I had been planing a few times), went out on my own in what I thought was very little wind. The wind was just enough to get me on the plane without pumping, and once the sail was locked in - consistent enough to keep me there. I decided to do one long run across the bay and back (10km roundtrip) on my big 165lt board and 7.5m cammed sail. It was a perfect run, simply put as mentioned above - "Freedom".

After the first run, I dropped into the water to cool off and was so stoked, I decided to do another run...same again. The sail was sitting just right, harness lines balanced, barely a ripple on the water and I wouldn't describe it as 'blasting', it was more of a cruise. I finished the 2nd run and couldn't leave it so had to do it again, so headed out for the 3rd run.

I got 90% of the way across and started to cramp, so turned and headed back. By the time I got within a couple hundred metres off the beach, both legs were shaking and I could barely hold my own weight. I made it back to the shallows, stepped off my board and collapsed in the water with a silly grin on my face. I lay there in the water for about 20mins just looking up at the sky. That day would have to be in my top 5 of my favorite 'planing'/windsurfing memories.

With the trees outside shaking and the white-caps I can see from my office window - I can see an extended lunch break (sail) happening in about an hour.