Tad,
There are many great H17 sailors in Div9 that would be more than willing to help you. Sam is just one of many that would bend over backwards to help. Heck most of the Div9 regattas are setup at camping areas just to keep the costs down sure there is a little road time! Along with that comes the ability to pick the brains of those 17 sailors as well as the Tiger, H20 and H16 sailors. Some of that is more valuable than getting your A** handed to you one the water. They all want people in the Div to succeed
It's great that you want to sail anyway you can whether it is the 17 or Mono. But the true test and the greatest rewards come from being beat in a race and learning from it to come back the next time and be successful.
As Mary said, even Rick started at the Back as well as any great racers.
Come out to a Div reggatta and sail for fun, if you come out to win every time well...........
Anyway, have a good one,