Agree with Jake here - don't try to win it all at one go and try to avoid the centre of the wave, aim for the 'end' and keep your speed up. For this reason I don't centre the traveller but have it about half way out (say 2' off centre) I'll sheet in and jump on, daggerboards in but not necessarily down (ready to be pushed down at first opportunity), leeward rudder still up (dagger rudders on the Stealth) and I'll hold the windward rudder most of the way down by hand. In almost 40 years with all sorts of cats I've never yet had a failed launch in surf (had some pretty close calls though!) and I've sailed in some HUGE conditions.

With the Tornado, launching in such conditions was even easier as with centreboards and kick up rudders you could afford to push them down (not locked) knowing they'd knock back up if you grounded in a trough. The secret is not to try to point too high but go for speed without sailing too low - the jib is incredibly useful here as it can provide some assistance with keeping the boat driving and also prevent coming up too high into the wind.

If there isn't much room down the beach then you've got to compromise and go for speed in the troughs but as the wave approaches, point up to gain distance to windward with the speed you've built up and once over the crest bear away hard to accelerate again.

If you've got a crew, then he/she needs to be pretty mobile around the boat - as you bear away, they get to windward to balance the boat and get in to the centre as you point up. Above all they need to hold on tight and work with you to keep the boat driving.

The key to it all is NEVER HESITATE, the slightest hesitation and the wave will have you no matter what - all movements and decisions have to be positive, if you think for even one moment that you're not going to make it, then you won't.................