Bruce,

The bows dip a little when you bear off. I never pitchpoled my NACRA 17R in a little more than 4 years of racing, and I don't know of anyone who has gone over any other way then sideways on the NACRA 17R. I HAVE gone over numerous times (4 times the first regatta!) and have been known to "push the envelope", "live on the edge", etc. I don't think using the spinnaker causes the bow to depress.