I've just got a 78 ltre board to use in 25kts +.It's a Tabou Pocket Wave 2005.I know I could probably have gone smaller but we don't often get consistent wind that strong here and this board was available for a test etc.
Took it for a test sail.Wow - what a difference! I actually enjoyed 25- 30kts and only had to worry about the sail being overpowering..It was lovely not to get bashed about like I do on the 95ltres..( I'm 64kgs).
Certainly gybes quickly! I was worried about using a smaller board as I havent used anything smaller than the 95 for 18months & previously my 86 ltre old board was my smallest.I actually pulled off the first 2 gybes! Then it went downhill but I actually got about half a dozen.The problem will be that I'll only get to use it half a dozen times a year so it will be hard to practise gybes.
I noticed it was very ' skatey' if I put any weight on my back foot going upwind but if it spun out it was easy to get back in.Gybed it on the face of a big chop & wow! it really grabbed & carved around ( I lost it on the exit).
For some reason I always sail a new board better the first time than the following sails [}:)] but hopefully I'll enjoy the next sail as much.Now I know why everyone else on their small boards in big winds don't get buggered after half an hour!