Hi Mark,

While your reasoning sounds logical...the reality is you need to open up the leech in high winds (15-25 kts). Opening the leech (like having more twist on the main) and tightening the foot does this. You're moving the center of effort higher up the sail...decreasing stability. It's more about power control in winds 15+ kts. Boat speed will be much higher and so apparent shifts further forward. Yes, it's possible to drive lower, but the top racers keep so much speed, the sail still needs to be very flat and open...otherwise the gusts will knock them down.

In light stuff (around 7 kts or less) is where we start moving the block forward past the "standard" location at the 4th tramp lacing. This powers up the sail making it fuller. We've learned by much empirical experimentation during races that heading up to go for better boat speed/hull lifting is not worth it at or below a certain wind range. Better to stay as low as possible but to keep moving well. We can head 5 or 10 degrees lower on average with the fuller shape than with the flatter shape at around the same speed...so vmg is optimized with block forward, powered up sail shape.

One day I'll need to get out and do some more GPS tracks with different settings to later analyze with GPSActionReplay...this tool can really help clarify what's working and what isn't.

Cheers!

PS., I like the shot of your Stealth. You tramp wraps over the main beam just like the T. Your beam bolt arrangement are what I amd familar with. I like the high mounted beam saddles. And, the bike water bottle cradle on t he boom is a great idea!