You can usually look online for wind reports to know if it's going to be bad or not. Check out iWindsurf.com or intelliCast.com for wind forecasts. If the wind kicks up too much, then usually it means I'll use the gas motor to take me upwind and then drift back to my spot. That does get old quick though and don't like docking in those conditions so usually I'll get off if the wind is constant and looks like it's there to stay.