We sailed our first international Hobie regatta this summer in Mexico at the Cummins Cup. The level of competition was about the same as Continentals. We haven’t sailed against any Euros or Australians in the 16 yet. We are planning on going to the Worlds in May so that will be our trial by fire.
I haven’t noticed the upwind rudder up thing making a difference yet. At continentals some guys were doing it, and some were not, to no clear advantage either way as far as I could tell. My theory is as follows: At continentals everyone has their own boat and the top guys make sure the toe in is just right, so the rudder up is not critical. At a regatta like Worlds or the Pan Am games where you don’t have time to get the toe in perfect, as you switch boats between races, you need to get the windward rudder up and out of the way. That’s my working theory but I still consider myself a freshman on the H-16. At any rate I’m practicing my technique for getting the rudder and down on the tacks so at least I can choose.