Do all you guys broad reach with the traveler centered? I never do, as the apparant wind is now abeam as Greg said, I would have eased the traveler out, not the mainsheet, and watched my lee side and leach tell-tales to be sure it wasn't out too much, but when ever I round A mark and head off on a reach to a B mark (not down to a C mark) and the reach is too high for the spin, I usually ease the traveler a foot or so as I round instead of hauling in on the rudders (speed brakes) to let the boat bear away easier, then decide if I will need to raise the lee dagger a bit or if I can trap with it down, etc.
Of course I pull the windward board up for two reasons, 1. I don't need it, 2. it is a great place to put your front foot to act as a slide stopper if you are stuffing into waves and you're not out on the wire.
I don't think I've ever sailed off the wind (broad reach or spinnaker run) with my traveler "centered" though, only when beating upwind, and then only if not overpowered.
Also, on pulling up the boards, I have installed a cross tramp line which is connected through both boards so I can pull up the lee board up without having to go down there, which is nice.
True.
If on a reach and the traveler is centered and the top way off the CE will be further back increasing weather helm to some extent. This is where you can easily follow the tells. If you are centered and try to sheet in to get the top tells to flow you would likely be way over powered. Some twist off the wind is fast, but the flatter the water the flatter the sail can be trimmed typically.
