 my Profile  Headland Industries:  Advice, Suggestions and
General Help New Topic Printer Friendly Version    Some thoughts
  Posted by: Kocho on Oct-29-12 1:58 PM (EST)  In smooth waves
coming from the side, rudder down should not affect you
negatively in the general case. It certainly should not cause
you to roll over - the contrary, a nice rudder in the water
increases stability as it slows down the rolling motion.  Where
a rudder might cause you to go over is if you are being pushed
from the side by a foam pile - the rudder might dig in the green
water and flip you sideways. Edging will not help much if the
rudder is still in the water.  Front-surfing with a rudder is
easier if the rudder is in the water, as long as you keep
straight enough and don't let the bow burry too deep. If the bow
locks-in deep and causes you to beginto broach sideways to the
wave, the rudder will not have enough power to slide the stern
around to correct - in such casese youmight be better off
without a rudder as you might beable