on boats with daggerboards and boom, the rake has only a subtle effect. As said by others, it effects jib and spi.
There is an effect on the weather helm as well. On your A-cat, the rake is more or less the only possibility to adjust it (apart from weight balance of course). On a F18, you can use the jib to trim weather helm as well.
Question is, if you want to change weather helm with wind strength.

Cheers,

Klaus