the topic is well covered now, but if i may add my opinion;
From my experience water doesn't pool on the tramp of the classic H16. It's convex in shape. The solid vinyl blocks the spray from underneath. People used to put strips of plastic in the lacing to block the spray that could get thru that gap.
As for tipping over backward on a H14; you as positioned too far aft during your back-up. The art of tacking a 14 is prolly long lost by now, but i can assure you that there have been many worlds and nats. held in rough ocean conditions where the top guys were getting around the course w/o tipping over.