Hmm, from your description, it sounds as if you were close reaching. In this case, I agree with Wouter's post that minimal daggarboard is needed for two reasons: (1) at speeds in excess of 20 mph, you don't need that much lift unless you are similar to "team tons-o-fun" (excess of 375 lbs), and in that case you will be subjecting your boards to huge forces anyway, and (2) you will further unload your rudders and in a big puff could cause them to cavitate (and then disaster).



I have "tripped over the daggars" and cavitated the rudders a few times in moderate wind (15 kts & gusty) in even small waves while tight reaching. Usually it occurrs when we're too far forward on the hull (in front of rear beam) and boards are down greater than 1/2 way. Mind you, our team is barely minimum weight (327), so things are more pronounced in breeze than heavier crews. We'll crash and burn long before we break too many things!



In keeping with the sage advice already posted, in light air, those boards being down are good for lift and tracking, but as the wind goes up, so should the boards. Our last big wind we kept them down about 6" and screamed across the bay (small chop) while trying to stand on the rudder casting. White knuckle ride to say the least....



And to keep your rudder hum down, you're going to have to sand the trailing edge a bit. Look on other posts for techniques of sanding correctly.