Nicely done and cool post!
One of the big things to help with FOF is to set firm bail plans and safety zones in place and to test the water early on. For extreme river days it's good to calm your brain by:
1. Taxi out and then just sit in the middle. Watch the shoreline. Are you going downstream or being blown back up? This gives you information on where to position yourself for when things go wrong.
2. With that knowledge in hand, session in a location where if a gear failure happens, you are naturally returned to your takeout. Rufus normally has current that returns you home. So, go upstream, which is downwind, and session there so that your swim is minimized.
3. Plan a secondary takeout that works if your primary plan fails. For Rufus if your plan is to get swept to the dirt lot, prepare your brain to also be blown to the boat ramp.
4. In extreme winds I always under rig. I agree with Velocicraptor about overrigging for general sketchy days but extreme Rufus wind I prefer to have my smallest sail. Gusts can range from 20-40 with a 30 knot average there and I will usually rig for the 40.
Outside of that day it's great to train as much as possible. Rooster Rock is your friend. It gives us insane winds with next to no swell. That is your opportunity to train and become comfortable with your sail in the most intense conditions without worrying about your swell management. I pushed a full winter there, getting comfortable with winds up to 50 knots and it was worth every brutal minute. I now feel like foiling simply begins at 30 knots. 40 knots is woohoo time. 62 knots, my peak, is fun but painful. The wind is blowing the whitewater spray hard enough to make it feel like you are being blasted by needles. Proper eye protection becomes necessary
Don't hesitate to ever reach out if you need a buddy for the insanity days.
For me, in the river, fear doesn't show up anymore. Jitters when trying something new/different but not fear. Caution in cold wind/water. At this point though, I'm so experienced and comfortable now that my fear is probably converted to curiosity in the pursuit of new experiences.
