Hasn't really proven faster in the F18's but it is hard to pinpoint that on the boat-fast sailors can win on most any well tuned platform. Its also hard to make that statement without data collected on a boat with strakes and one without that are otherwise identical in nature and sailed in a large variety of conditions with equal caliber sailors on board.

Strakes or no strakes, the design looks fast and well thought out, hope to see one stateside!