Thanks all, for your response.

If I were much younger I'd be a radical kite sailor! Saw a thing on TV where two guys crossed the English Channel! What a hoot! French coast guard was not amused though!

I think the real problem with the Tiki is that the shrouds go all the way to the mast head. This prevents the gaff (forked stick{that might make a good boat name}at the top)from rotating horizontally into a beam position. This leaves the main severly "goose winged" down wind.

Up wind, I haven't a clue! Although when the wind gets up over 6 knots it will point about as well as a Hobie 16 if not as fast.