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I experimented yesterday afternoon by ditching the daggerboard - it didn't seem to set me back - albeit felt a bit more 'slippery' for lack of a better term. when is the right time to stop using the dagger?
i find I'm fighting to avoid sailing upwind all the time. Which is kind of strange as I assumed the opposite would have been more likely. Are there any obvious or possible reasons why I'm doing this?
Thanks guys
Stop using it now.
Once you have your balance sorted out and can steer comfortably with the rig, a dagger boards isn't necessary.
Once you lose the dagger board you're next step is harness lines and foot straps to get the weigh over the fin.
This will assist in foot steering and control.
If you're finding yourself sailing into the wind a lot, maybe you are standing to far back on the board.
Really accentuate the front foot pressure when pointing the board where you want it to go while keeping the rig upright
Once planing the 'steering' becomes more back foot controlled but in sub planing conditions the front foot or mast foot pressure is essential to drive the rigs energy through the board and fin
BTW - What size board and sail are you using?
Don't use the dagger when running downwind or planing in any direction.
If you are heading upwind unintentionally it's probably because you're sinking the windward rail.
Hold the board flat across the beam. Hang a bit more weight in the harness.
no. not essential to have water starts sorted prior to using harness and footstraps. In fact, i'd say learning to use these before water starting is better.
Obviously the windier (but not too windy) it is the easier water starting will be but having too big a sail will make life a bit difficult when water starting.
My advice is to just commit a whole day to water starting. 15-20kn is perfect
Water start, harness and footstraps, gybe. do it again.
So as you've nailed water starts you'll be wanting that new 130L board 
^ +1
i started with the harness first
then water start in bigger winds - around 20+ knots for a 6.x sail
once comfortable in the harness , i purchased a larger sail to get planing earlier - no cambers and easy to rig- was a Maui Sails Pursuit 8.5 that worked for me
that could get me planing in 15-16 knots as a 100 kilo newbie
under 12 knots i still use a longboard with a daggerboard and an 8.x sail
in my current avatar it is a Fanatic Ultra CAT/FUC board with an MS-2 8-oh (cambered)
