Takeoff authority was not a problem.. just had to get the tail up early ..
I generally did a 'launch off'.. hold it on the line and wind up the 'rubber band' and let it go.. judicious (well practiced) quick stick forward movement to pop the tail up immediately... wheels off in less than 200m ..
My landing in Soni was at near to stall, (the really low wing suffer greatly from float if the speed was even a little too high) raise the nose until stall warning just started (it is mounted just behind my ear) plane is the at the right attitude to achieve the 'carrier' landing.. with the mains just above the tail wheel ..At that point you 'followed it to the deck.. hook the tail, mains on, power off, stick into the guts to Pin the steerable tailwheel... because Yes once down the tail was shielded by the turtledeck...and had no authority at all
Did 150 hours after I learnt to fly it...with lots of landings .. never did a go around or ground loop (had a few of doosy's, but stuck all regardless)
A mod on later builds was a raised tail (generally around 2") to assist in alleviating the shadowing.