For the latter case your observation is probably almost correct:
"everyone else can't sail their boats in heavy or light air." It could
also
be that they didn't intend to race you, did you ask them?

I've sailed a Catalina 36 and 34. I don't need to race to know that
they are years slower than the 35s5 in light air. Of course you only
need to look at the SA/D and wetted surface along with ratings to have
a clue about that. The Catalina is a cruiser and makes no pretenses
about outrunning a 35s5 or J34c.

RB
35s5
NY