Hi Bob,
First of all the Hooter can only be used upwind in very light conditions. With those conditions and the boats I used the Hooter against, we outpointed the stock boats. The Nacra 6.0NA is the main boat I remember the most. Because of the speed created and consequent lift of the boards, we were actually able to sail closer to the wind once speed was acquired.
And you're right! A Nacra 6.0 NA could not possible sail as high as the A-Cats.., under any circumstances.
Tacking is a lot less trouble than you can imagine. With the Taipan 4.9 the Hooter is pretty small and high-aspect (much smaller than the class headsail size limits) and it sheets from the sidestays and tacking is pretty fast and without mishaps. The Hooter I had on the Nacra was much larger and sheeted from the rear beam and was abit of a hassle to tack. But, even then you still had your main and jib working allowing the boat to get out of the turn fast while you finally sheeted in the big sail.

Really glad you mentioned the Screachers on the Corsairs. I think where I first got the idea of the Hooter was on Lyman White's F25C. That boat was fast, reactive and pointed great with the Screacher (by the way, when Randy Smyth builds the sail it is a Screacher, when Dave Calvert builds the sail it is a Hooter) in winds all the way up to 15 mph.
The reason it worked on the F25C was due to the lightness of the boat. However, on a standard Corsair you are correct -- it only worked up to a close reach. After discussing this with Dave Calvert, we both seemed to agree that the difference was the lightness or the heaviness of the platform.
You have to stand in line to disagree with me about windage, but I really see very little difference. Also, the snuffer system does manage to slap the water offering tremendous drag while the furler is high in the air and cannot be dragged down by splashing water.
I do think it is a stretch to think that excess weight forward or aloft is a problem.
I remember in the Hogsbreath-Keys 100 we finished way ahead of all the other boats in Marathon (all with spinnakers) in heavy air downwind and had no problems with pitchpoles. They were all miles behind us. The fleet included Tornadoes, Nacras, Supercats, etc.
I totally agree that speed testing is the way to go. We have done that years ago and that is why I love the Hooter.

Guess my whole point of all this is that I cannot see why a newly formed class in the U.S. has to use the dictates of classes that race in totally different wind and seas. I love the idea of a formula class, but to arbitrarily use rules that will restrict the boats speed right out of the gate scrares me. And for no apparent reason the Hooter is banned. I think that is wrong. Geez! It is smaller and flatter -- what is everyone afraid of? Because it is easier to use?
And the Hooter is so much easier to use than the spinnaker that there is a chance it could now include women and youth sailors. Wouldn't that be good for a 16-foot boat? A 16-foot platform is not going to support much weight and with the use of spinnakers you will be restricted to finding 100-pound ladies. But 100-pound ladies are not going to be able to hang tough and be able to handle the spinnaker out of a bag or with a snuffer.
And snuffers are difficult. At the Championships I saw an awful bunch of problems with spin set and take downs. Very strong, athletic guys were having a helluva time. That would not happen with a Hooter.

At first I was loving the idea of the F16 Class -- at my size of 207 lbs I could single-hand (and not have to search the world over for a small person that may or may not show up for a regatta) the Taipan 4.9 as a uni and then with a flip of the wrist be sailing downwind with hot speed.
Just before the mark, just make one arms length pull and the sail is furled and I am on the way back upwind.

With the present thinking and present rules, I would have to spend about $3000 to set up a snuffer system that would be a lot harder to handle.
This is beginning to be a big turn off to me.., and as Wouter says, just stick to Portsmouth Racing. Apparently, that is what I am going to have to do. Too bad!
Thanks for listening,
Rick