Jamie, et. al.,

I've got alot to say about alot of this, but most of it has been said already.

Jamie, you said:Another principle that you can take from this discussion and apply to racing. You need more board the lighter the conditions. In very light wind I leave my boards all the way down all the time. Ony when it blows harder do I start to bring them part way up for sailing downwind.

I totally agree.

I still get into a 'who's right' match when I comment on what you said:
If it's really nuken you don't even need them all the way down for upwind.

I still talk to sailors that can't understand this.

Wouter once had some equations that supported this also.

One year in Ruff Rider Regatta, 2nd day, we were moving due to the current in the channel going our way. At one point I got my boat completely sideways, and stayed even with the boats in front and behind, and they were heading in the right direction. Boat in a bucket. I was heading towrd the east side, about 5ft from the bank. the others were heading down the channel, and we were all going the same speed, relative to the bank, and I was also travelling down the channel, oriented 90 degrees to the others boats, going the same speed. (PS, It wasn't a year Rick was in it)