Mary,
I must disagree with your generalization regarding wings and racing. Yes, in light air, they are a disadvantage, but in stronger wind...12 and above...they have proved to help in two ways on our Mystere 6.0: first, my crew can trap on the wing and add much more leverage and second, going up-wind, he uses the wing support for additional leverage up front. Maybe its the hobie wings you were referring to or maybe its my limited experience as opposed to the experts in Key Largo, but we use 'em and love 'em.
John
for me, the weight of the wings are a mixed blessing. I don't know how much the H17 wings weigh, but like I said before I have no problem picking them up with my pinky. However, I'm about as skinny as a beanpole at 6'6" and a shy bit over 170, I can use all the weight I can get honestly. In light air, its easy to take them off too 
Boiler70, it sounds like you are agreeing with me rather than disagreeing, because my post referred specifically to the light and shifty wind conditions which are experienced in most parts of the country in the summer. And I am certainly not an expert -- I'm just giving my personal opinion as a crew who has had some very bruising experiences with the wings on Hobies. And it is not the wings themselves that are the problem -- it is those things that attach them to the boat. I am sure the real problem is that I am just not young and agile enough.
Yeah, I was agreeing with you.
Sorry if it sounds like I was not, in an act of defiance, I am refusing to take my medication