ok, so what are the main characteristics of different board thickness when paddling in open choppy ocean conditions when racing? Using an allwater board i.e. Allstar or maliko etc....

A thicker board can often be stiffer and have less drag from water washing over the rail/tail/deck and a thicker board is much more wind effected by side winds and side chop.

A thicker board can be more tippy and have a corky feel when surfing and ideally you want the board to be just thick enough without being too thick and the paddlers weight can have a huge effect on this.