This actually did happen to me personally last weekend when I was singlehanding under a spinnaker in 12 m/s wind. Good force 6.

To be really honest, I remember thinking " #*%^@ what now !", but not how I survived it in any detail.

I did survive however and keep the pointy end up.

Also remember hooking my feet underneath the foot straps and thus preventing sliping off the boat while I s-curved violantly down the slope of the wave. At those speeds the boat was very sensitive to any rudder movement. I somehow managed to keep the speed difference between myself and the wave sufficiently small so that I didn't plunch into the back of the next wave.

I'n not kidding, I was looking down a wave slope that looked like it dropped 2 to 3 mtr in about twice that distance. It was steep ! it was fast ! and afterwards I was dizzy with adrenaline.

Wouter