Hey Wouter,
I`ve never taken it down THAT early (except once, it looked like a tight reach from B-C, so I took down as we reached B, Gybed & passed the others on a 2 sail reach while they were fighting the kites, but that`s different). On another occassion I capzised twice in one leg, so hoisted & retrieved the kite 3 times in one leg, but I`m hoping to avoid a repeat, it gets too tiring & does nothing for your boatspeed.

Berny :
In SA we have very segregated fleets, and only sail open class a few times a year at the Longhaul Point Series. Mostly we sail Mozzies, Hobie 16`s & Dart 18 in separate class & club events, mainly becuase certain clubs have become "home bases" for each class. In answer to your question, we have 14-18 Mozzies sailing at most club events, and the spinnaker has taken off so much so that at our last event we had 1 non-spinnaker boat. The Hobies sail at another club so we seldom race against them, and the Darts only sail inland, very few in our neighbourhood.

The bit about hanging in there downwind with the bigger boats is academic, the Hobie Tigers are quicker than we are, and start separately in open events, so it`s a case of trying to hold them off as long as possible, as much as we provide them with "targets". It`s all fun, and the separation of classes would happen anyway, the kite just lets us have way more speed & fun than without it. (And we ARE sometimes qucker than them, which freaks them out a bit)
Your scenario at your home club is different, seems you sail with a mixed fleet of mostly 14fters, none with spinnakers. I`d understand that if you put a kite up, you`d isolate yourself from the rest, and have no-one to race against. I suppose different scenarios dictate different responses - If there were 20 430`s and you put up a kite, the rest would see you blasting off & probably order the spinnaker kit. Perhaps if Darryl`s F14 takes off in numbers you could join in with them.
Either way, always remember to have fun when you`re sailing, even if there`s no-one to race ! .