I don’t usually look at yachting comics, but I thought I'd better make an exception in this case. I got the Zinio online copy.
I’d say that the junk came out on top, according to the criteria that I use to judge a rig. A highly-tuned-rig-for-racing Splinter vs a low budget, low tech, experimentally rigged Splinter, and still probably not much in it, overall speed-wise, if the boats had been truly identical, and if they’d sailed around the usual upwind/downwind race course, as they did with the Beneteau bermudan rig vs wing sail, for Voiles et Voiliers magazine. Just much easier handling with JR, when things get tricky. And they don’t do these trials in tricky conditions, always in smooth waters and easy sailing conditions. Give me JR every time, when the wind is gusting and swirling around mountains or high buildings, or when a vicious squall comes through. In these conditions, speed of reefing and shaking out reefs is an important factor in keeping a boat going at her best.
I don’t usually look at yachting comics, but I thought I'd better make an exception in this case. I got the Zinio online copy, and the only way I could copy it was as a screen shot, hence the poor quality.
I’d say that the junk came out on top, too. A highly tuned racing Splinter vs a low budget, low tech experimentally rigged Splinter, and still not much in it, overall speedwise, if they’d sailed around the usual upwind/downwind race course, as they did with the Beneteau wing sail. Just infinitely easier handling, when things get tricky. And they don’t do these trials in tricky conditions, always in smooth waters and easy sailing conditions.