Hi Gary,
We`ve found much the same - At our recent provincial champs we started 5min behind the Hobie 16`s with the Tigers starting 5min behind us. In a 40min race the Tigers would finish with us or just ahead, but they only made their gains on the upwind legs, seems we can hold them off downwind in certain conditions. A friend of mine on a Tiger couldn`t believe that he was struggling to catch us downwind in 12-15knots, seems we get more out of the lighter breeze with a light boat, whereas they really turn the power on in over 15 knots. Make no mistake, they do get past us, but not quickly. I`ts upwind where they make big gains.
I crewed for him in the Cape Point Challenge, 85km race to Cape Point & back, and we pulled an hour out of the Mozzies then, but conditions favoured the Tiger. We started an hour after the mozzies & Hobie 16`s, but the wind had filled in quite a bit enabling us to catch them, so not really a fair comparison. We had a 4hour elapsed time, the first Mozzie just ahead of us.
There`s no doubt we`ll struggle to pace with them upwind, maybe need to work on that high-aspect main on a taller mast

Cheers
Steve