Are rudders a good thing on ocean boards?

I was checking my local today with an eye to my SUP choice. ENE around 15 - 20 knots. There is a 10km stretch of beach that I reckon maybe you could downwind. There is nothing between the two ends of the beach so you want to be sure you make it to the other end of the beach.

Can you only do a downwind run directly downwind?

The angle of the wind won't always be directly at your back doing this downwind run. Does a rudder system help you do long downwind runs when you want to deviate from the wind direction a little to ensure you make it to your destination without having to paddle across or into the wind for a while at the end stage of the run?

Is a rudder system designed to make it easier to bear off from the wind direction by say 20 degrees?

There's less need to do those awkward wide paddle strokes to direct the board in the direction that you want to go.. IMO that's their biggest benifit.

DJ

So it sounds like if you can get a reliable rudder system and want to paddle in the ocean they are worth getting.

Most runs over here are like that. Not many people use rudders.
Options are to paddle out a k or so to improve the angle or always paddle on the one side.
Had a DC 16 with a rudder meant I could paddle both sides.
So good to have but not crucial.

If you are just starting try some safer runs that do not have areas you cannot land if you get blown ashore.

Personally I think rudders are overrated.

They do come on handy when doing a long distance open water paddle in side winds.

Using them on runners is a lot harder then it looks.

DJ

This
looks like a lot of fun. No manic surfers jostling for position either. Bliss.