Hi Again
I bet you all think i ask to many questions but to be mean im not realy caring 
. Well my main question is, while racing my hobie 16 in some what weirdish wind with winds between 10 knots and almost 40 at the end of the day. The wind didn't seem right because we might be both on trapzing with the boat about to capsize and all of a suddern we would get tea baged. Well the question is, how would a hobie 16 go up against hobie 17, 18 and 20. They are all dam good sailors (17=Aus chap, 18=3rd Aus, 20 Aus chap). Its just even though our start was stuffed up by another boat, we all most got lapped by the hobie 20 and he was having a bad day. Well i would be qurious if that is really ment to happen or is it just that they are better than us?
Jules
Jules,
On Ricks home page there is a button labeled "Portsmouth et al, ratings and tables" It will take you to handicaping tables. I reviewed just the Portsmouth ratings, and in all wind conditions it listed the H16 as the slowest and the H20 as the fastest of the boats you mentioned. From these tables you should be able to handicap the boats you are racing with.
Greg,
H14, H16
Well
The hobie 14 is the slower than the hobie 16 but now the hobie 17s handy cap is higher than the hobie 16 which is stupid becasue the hobie 16s handy cap used to be 83 and its now 81 and the hobie 17 is 82.
I know about the handy cap but the thing is should they all beat me that bad even on handy cap and is it just skill because if its my sailing i need some coaching soon and fast.
Jules
how much racing experience do you have? sailboat racing is a complex sport. making the boat go fast is just the first step. then there is tactics, figuring out how to start on time, sail the shortest distance with the best wind and the least interference from other boats. those other guys, how much xperience do they have? be patient, learn from others, and practice practice practice.
Well they are a heap better than me since they are some thing like 50 years old and im 16 sailing a 16 but its just that i think my boat isn't pointing well so they are getting more and more away. Im going to have a one on one sail with a guy down the coast who got 2nd in the world to see how i really go 
and ill post that later.
Jules