Awwww He$$. I knew I was going to start this

This could be a long one!

1) if we run dead downwind, we negate any lift generated by the sails because they would then just be huge (to borrow Rick's terminology:) barn doors. The largest reason we reach downwind is so we can achieve a degree of airflow over the sails so they can generate lift and generate 180% more force than just 'catching' air (again from Rick's videos) - right? As to why most non-planing monodulls run straight downwind when we reach; we can achieve greater hull speed than monodulls and can turn the additional 80% power into speed - hence we reach.

2) Here's an area that I admitedly haven't explored but I think I'm with you. I've often wondered if the hull speed would be greater downwind with the boards down a bit to reduce leeway but I traditionally haven't done it for some reason. I agree that moving the boat sideways is very draggy and if you were to look at the direction of a boat reaching downwind, boards up, and with a little side slip, the direction is not straight ahead but off to the side a bit. Certainly this is not the easiest way for the boat to get through the water. My question is; does the additional leeway (from totaly raising the boards) add to the total boat speed? Or does the additional drag subtract from it? I suspect the latter but am not sure.