I don't have enough time on the boat in heavy air to comment just yet. However, Macca should chime in with some real time experience in those conditions and comparisons.
At the moment we have a lot of heavier crews sailing the boat, but Fergie and I are just on 150kg combined and have been sailing a lot on the boat in all sorts of weather. Recently we sailed in Hyeres in full mistal conditions (30-40kts) and despite the terrifying ride we were really happy with the control we had over the boat.
As for competitive weight ranges I think in time we will see the weights come down to just above the ideal F18 weight. The hulls can for sure carry more volume than an F18 and the rig is massive when you compare them, but the 3.2m beam is a lot of RM to play with and as such the lighter teams can keep the boat moving even in the big wind.
