I agree with Eric on the mast rake. I have recently changed to a Nacra 5.0 and just this weekend experimented with mast rake. My old Mystere 5.0XL was a very similar 16 foot skeg boat and demanded that the mast be nearly vertical. When I tried this on the Nacra it was a disaster. It wouldn't point and was pitchy as hell. I dropped back 2 holes on the sidestays and a miracle occured! I can point great and no pitch tendancies (so far), all with neutral helm. I'm going even back further next time. Send me a PM and we can discuss a rake measurement scheme.

As mentioned in a recent Nacra 5.7 discussion, the need to keep your weight way forward when pointing can't be overemphisized, one foot on the forward beam, one on the chain plate rivets (solo, of course). If you work it hard you can point with the big dogs.