For me, a completely different kind of sailing experience. The O'day 22 is more like sailing a motorhome and a DS is more like sailing a Miata. With the DS you are much more closely connected to the sailing experience and that can be quite thrilling. I like to sail mine fast and have it set up that way. So far, knock on wood, I also have not gone all the way over. I've swamped it three times, though, two times to the seat tops and one time all the way to the rails, that time the mast was just touching the water. Each time it was due to slow reaction time (maybe an extra second) under high wind conditions. All three times I had someone else at the helm and controlling the sheets. Yes, I have changed my behavior regarding teaching people to sail under those conditions.
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
A friend of mine and I have sailed my boat a lot in high wind conditions and had many a thrill ride, with no problems. He and his wife have sailed a bigger boat with a lot of ballast for years, with no problems. He's actually a really good sailor. He decided that he wanted to get a DS so that he could have a boat that would be easy to launch and step the mast. The first time they took the DS out it was pretty windy, they capsized it, and it turned turtle. So, yes you need to be cautious with these boats until you get the hang of them.
Also, the sailing style between light centerboard boats and keel boats is different in that you trying not to let the centerboard boat heal over at all (it's not only faster but gives you more time to react). You need to control spilling your air by using your sheets. I don't cleat my sheets and constantly play them to keep the boat upright. Whereas in a keelboat you just cleat and let the ballast to the work.
Would I be comfortable go camping in a Miata? … Not really. I think the DS is a really fun boat but it's not what I would call real comfortable.