Wouter-
I understand the "A" cat Flyers advantage upwind is due to their ability to make a better VMG by "footing" more than the "other" designs and so they must be sailed differently than the "conventional" (ie non-wavepiercing) designs. This is even given the same rigs. Could you comment on why this might be the case (only reasons I could come up with is that other boats when trying to foot "lose" too much to leeward due to wave drag/resistance- ie trying to plow over rather than through waves at an increased angle and decreased windage of the Flyer bows).
What do you think?

Kirt