Long daggerboards (high aspect) were already persent on the Nacra Inter-18 = F18 (nacra inter 20) as early as 1995. The trend already started here with respect to high aspect daggerboards. The A's were a little late with regard to this development but have since then moved to the forefront of it.

Interestingly enough the Blade with the old boards would point a little higher to the Taipan in the 1-on-1 testing. But I do think the new design is better, although not by a huge amount.

I feel the Taipan gets a significant portion of the pointing from the hulls itself and so it could well favour the board design it has now.

It is certainly true that you don't want to lift the board to early on the Blade. But then again I only lift them on my taipan when it is howling.

Wouter