First, do you think you really go faster with a kite in winds above 20 knots, or do you just sail lower and as a result get to the mark sooner? it seems to me that there is a certain amount of increased drag with a kite, and it's not going to help your top speed in overpowered conditons.
How does a kited boat handle jumping over the backs of swells on a hairy downwind leg. i seem to remember reading some stories about jumping over the back of a wave and stuffing into the next wave since you can't head up much with a spi. in order to angle across the back of the next wave.
also a thought that may help explain increased stability fron a spi.: maybe the fact that the boat is being pulled from the front rather than from the main beam as you are with just the main helps stabilize the boat.
1 other question, how long does a spi. last if used in high winds regularly, and capsized from time to time?
thanks in advance.