If you compare the 16 to an 18 or 20, I should say the bigger the boat, the more forgiving.

If you flip an F18, you would have already flipped the F16 10 seconds earlier.
If you're losing speed because you didn't react quick enough on a shift on the F18, you're lost all of your speed on the F16 (momentum).
I you sheet in on the F18 and feel that you're accelerating, the F16 is already gone!

I went sailing on the F16 with a guy that owns an Infusion. He did the main while I steered. When a gust hit us, he realesed the main about 70 cm (7:1), after the gust he pulled that 70cm back on in 1 time. At that moment we had to step back at least 20cm from our original position not to pitchpole upwind because of the forward force generated! The acceleration of an F16 can't be compared to any other cat I have sailed so far. (and so said he).

Gill