I am the proud new owner of a 14' x 26" Javelin LE (2014). Thought I would give it a go on some small waves. But when the waves had just a bit of size, the board would go right and I would go left... If I got it just right (keeping the nose out of the water and paddling exactly perpendicular to the wave direction) I could keep it going straight and it was fun. But it didn't seem to take much to have it squirm off to the right or left and seemingly try to go parallel to the wave...

I bought it for downwinding. Is that what I can expect in bay/ocean swell?

Or is it just technique?