from my limited observation, it looked like the boatspeed on most N20 fleet was very close upwind, and not too different downwind. The big position changes were due to:

Finding wind on the course (especially when it went waaaay right on the last race)

Getting a clean air start

Fluidity of tacks/gybes/mark roundings

Those that proved most consistent in those areas ended up on the podium. I think we were on the tail end of the front pack, and with a few tactics improvements and a bit better transitions (spin sets/douse) we'd be much closer to the pointy end of the fleet.

As for your rotation setting with your wing mast, can't you put a little telltale about 6" off the bolt rope of the main, and adjust it until it's flying on the leeward side? That will at least ensure a smooth flow across the backside... right?

For us tear-droppers, I think the general consensus is rotator off or minimal until full downhaul is needed, in which case you want to minimize drag by reducing luff curve by pulling in the rotator a bit...