It's extremely rare to get perfectly flat water in the winds required to hit 40 Knots on a windsurfer. In most venues you will have at least 'chatter chop' or rattle chop, even in the Luderitz Canal
Lake George, Budgiewoi and a couple of weedy lakes around Mandurah are the notable exceptions. At these flat locations, 40's can sometimes be had in high 20's winds, but most of us really need a pretty solid 30 to get it consistently.
Contrary to popular belief, Sandy Point in it's heyday, was anything but perfectly flat when you got off the wind enough to crack 40. And when it was blowing 35-40+ knots and speeds got into the mid to high 40's, the 'rattle chop' could be pretty daunting.

I have no idea what is required to do 40+ knots on open ocean.

Maybe ask Chris Lockwood?