The only time that I think the Sloop guys walk away from us is when it's blowing over 15 knots. More leverage which equals more weight. Where as the Uni guys are lighter with less leverage.

Here is the way I see it and some of the other guys I talk to see it.

0-5 kts everyone is pretty much equal.
5-10 kts- Uni guys have the advantage if they know how to sail the boat. They trap out earlier and can go downwind better because they can get the hull flying.
10-15 kts everyone is equal again except a few exceptions of where the Uni guy might not be heavy enough to leverage the boat or they can't depower enough.
15+kts-Sloop has the advantage because of weight/leverage. This is where the Sloops can and will walk away from us. They have more weight to leverage the boat.

A-cats are lighter, but light weight doesn't mean they can go faster or the F16 Uni's would be flying upwind in 15 kts of wind with no problems. The A's rigs are optimized for their weight and they do have more hull length to help.

Mike