Hi Steve,
You don't have to take my word for the double trap sailing conditions in the Steeplechase. Look at the distance covered and the ET. Sixty five miles in 6.5 hours and 50 miles of that was tacking to windward. That 50 miles becomes 71 miles sailed across the water so the total distance sailed over the water was 71 plus 15 equals 86 NMi in 6.5 hours leads to an average speed of 13.2 knots. That's not bad for "drifting", is it?
Once upon a time I listened to exactly what the beach cat sailing public said they wanted, "a boat faster than the Tornado in 1976". I designed and built that boat and demonstrated its superior speed over the Tornado several times for several years. An example sales record is that "ONE BOAT" was sold in Miami, Florida and that was to the Hobie Cat dealer. "Very very few of the sailors that said they wanted the boat, ever bought the boat". That taught me the sailing public does not mean what they say even though they may not know it at the time.
Look at this F14 thread. Sailors say they want a high tech, light weight boat. It sounds good. The fellows in Australia may build some but here in the US, very few will ever be built. In the US people buy things for their hobbies; we don't build things anymore. A beach cat dealer calls it "building a boat" when he assembles a factory boat, puts the beams and tramp on.
I have no idea what it takes to make a boat sell. Building the fastest, best constructed and safest boat does not do it. I think being the first in the business has much to do with it. Having a super sales organization does not do it. Hobie Cat had their most rapid growth when enthuiastic sailors sold boats, H14s and H16s, to their friends out of their back yards.
As to the ARC17 sail area: The boat is a beach cat. the mast is short and the sail aspect ratio low by todays standards. The best way to depower a sloop rig is to take the jib off. If you are a new boat owner/sailor, don't go sailing when there are whitecaps. Learn to sail in below whitecap conditions first; work your way up in stronger winds slowly.
Bill