Very interesting answers, thanx a lot all!

Teamvmg, the combination of sheet/traveler work is very nicely explained, we´ll give it a try. One probably has to open the main sheet a little bit in order to get that traveler car sliding on the H16 (this is what we do when round the upwind mark).

Wouter, your method sounds quite easy "to implement", we´ll try too. However, if the fast guys open the traveler, they do it for some reason. On the Tornado to my knowledge they also work the main sheet. Would be interesting to know why on some cats one method is preferable. Someone knows??

I think however that a little luffing (without taking the drive out of the boat) is important, one can easily gain a few meters upwind in each gust.