One more suggestion: try to pick a spot to learn in relatively shallow water. Seems like there was a rental place in Panama City next to the bridge? Was a HUGE advanatge to be able to walk back upwind and try some more instead of just blowing further and further downwind from my launch site. Also, a lot less energy getting back on the board given all the getting back on you WILL be doing. Just don't fall in head first and get stuck in the mud :-)

My old POS BIC finally gave out; would love to get a newer one but with 5 boats now... :-(