Speed is a factor and so is weight. But i have been at both sides of the coin. On the 14 Turbo, light guys use to kick my butt; but then on the H-16 being on the heavy side really helped when the wind piped up. Is it not always the quickest speed wise (per se). How you read the wind, being on the right side of the course, choosing the right tack, seeing and reading shift on the water. There are a lot of factors that come in to play and time on the water is a big factor. Through racing you can learn from the other boats and better sailors, see how and why they are going faster. It is not whether I won are lost always, I just think in the long run it made me a better sailor.
