Thanks guys!
The group comes through again.
When on it's side the Blade seems to want to go dead downwind with the mast pointing into the wind.
I now know that one of the things I did wrong was to not let the tension off the downhaul. That does explain my not being able to move the tip of the mast up to the surface even when I was parallel to the water with my harness hooked into the righting line. The sail was definitely resistng me.
ATRS I have in abundance. Maybe I'll take a whole box next weekend and give them a try. One of the locals has a water bag. I'll ask him how it's beeen working for him. The righting pole sounds interesting too.
I'll let you know how I fair.
John