Muppets in Irons.

Probably the breeziest of races I've done on the sea and sure enough I'm in irons, the threshold is a bit higher than previous boats but with puffs of 20 mph today and a bit of a cross swell running I found my self in irons as the gun went after tacking onto the line, I managed to just get it going but it took ages to get momentum going, then after a great session dicing with my pal in his Phantom and my chum from the lake in his Laser, surfing excellent waves down the reaches, I head up at the bottom mark straight into irons on the harden up. Didn't even tack, it is so annoying drifting back downwind especially with a spring tide running, really irritating and it happened about half a dozen times, no sooner than I claw myself back a bit, I'm straight into irons, it seemed to happen more on one tack (tacking into the oncoming waves)than the other but it did occur on both tacks.

I've never really gotten to grips with what you're supposed to do, I think I've worked out a procedure now by pushing the boom out to bring the boat more side on, but there must be techniques to stop it happening in the first place, the two other boats that it used to happen earlier in the wind range both had centreboards, so just kicking them back a bit used to help, but this one has a dagger.

So what are the alleged techniques, I'm told sheet out more before the tack, dump the kicker, windward heel, I found  forcing myself to get right round and as far forward as possible helped, but that's quite a journey in the EPS, off the rail back down the boat round the turret then back up the other side and I'm wondering if it's being exacerbated by this new thicker sheet I'm using for the main, it doesn't exactly glide through the blocks so the main doesn't naturally sheet out as fast as it did with the old mainsheet.

Anyway, what does the hive mind have to say about irons, what are your tricks, a) for not going in in the first place and b) when it inevitably happens and c)What expletives help, I found Ef U Cee Kay totally useless no matter how much I uttered it.

Or am I expecting too much of my weight versus a 9.4 sail? I mean it didn't happen every time so it must be possible, I must have some technique flaw..