Mate I feel your pain. I've done a few inland lake regattas in very minimal winds and it can be very frustrating. It took me a number of hammerings as you describe to become 'inland lake savvy' in light airs. Having new and unfamiliar gear is also a bummer and Mylar mainsails need a bit of air pressure to push them over to the new tack or else you need to pump the boom which isn't too cool particularly if you've 'lost it' with the frustration.

I'm happy to hear that the boat went well when the air finally began to move.
What sort of discussion if any was there generally about the F14 concept?
Bern