| L/D is of importance even when there is power available (strong wind) when beating into the wind.

Right, but, and guide me if I am wrong, given I can optimize for a narrow set of wind speeds, one chooses the most common wind speeds to optimize for, right?

Yes, there are sail configurations that may perform better over a larger set of wind speeds. But I think cheaper larger sails is more important than expensive specialized sail configurations.

Or are you saying the mast rollers are inexpensive?

I think if i play with sails beyond Robs, I may play with hard sails, but I know nothing.

| So even with a high L/D, the forward drive could be zero. And the only way to accelerate the boat is to bear away. Which is the definition of a boat which "doesn't go to windward".

If one can get somewhere between 19° and bearing away, I'll be ok. One only needs to point a observable few degrees higher than the rest for bragging rights. That's what a boat should be properly optimized for, right?

Thank you for the translation of the Marstrom guys. Interesting.