But what is the real reason they weren't out on the wire?
The reason I bring it up is that it is clearly faster to trap out downwind for Me on my Blade. Sitting on the tramp as far back as possible still has the bows dig in too much for me. Maybe this is only me, but the difference between sitting at the rear beam and trapping AT or Behind the rear beam is huge interms of the way the boat drives and flies. The VMG issue can be debated of course though. I don't have a lot of data to support it but I feel that I would get better VMG downwind- including the gybing issues- out on the wire when racing solo. I think a lot of the issue with driving solo is to not get overwhelmed and go over especially in any decent wind. It makes no sense to trap downwind in a race if you are guaranteed to capsize of course.
Some math guys could chime in but the speed difference, IMO, is probably 5 kn(?) or so sitting vs trapping. Lets say you have to run 10degrees higher. Who wins? I hit 18.5-19 kn routinely last week sailing two up with someone on the wire behind me in 15kn (or so) winds

Tback and Tshan... what is your take on this? Do you not trap out downwind because you believe it to be faster or is it mainly a concern about capsizing? I think it is perfectly acceptable to race and not go out on the wire solo. But is it faster?
Hell, I think this has been discussed before... but I don't remember.