Yes, Yes, Yes.... blush

Karl,
Pulling the boards does help in releasing pressure from the hulls when going fast. When you get out again next year, try pulling them and see what happens. When racing, it is more important to raise the spin FIRST and get it going fast. Pulling boards are last on the priority list when singlehanding a boat with a spin in windy conditions. However before a windy race start, I do raise both boards about 6" or more depending on what my pre-start homework tells me.

In light air and sitting in on the tramp, I'll raise the windward board halfway upwind. When I round A mark and am ready to gybe(after the spin is up of course), I'll gybe, get the boat moving, then raise the new windward board as time permits. When I gybe again(if necessary), the boards are already set up and don't need to be touched again until 20 boat lengths out from the next mark. If you do it right, you will round the leeward mark with the windward board halfway up and the leeward board down. Take another look at the F17 tuning guide as a starting point for these settings. As the wind increases, pulling boards goes down on the priority list; no crew!

More to ponder over the winter!! grin

Bob wink

"The election is over, the talking is done, Your party lost, my party won. So let us be friends, let arguments pass, I’ll hug my elephant, you kiss you’re a $$.”
Liberalism = A brain eating amoeba & a failed political ideology of the 20th century!