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About this quick <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

http://www.formula18alive.com/f18alive.wmv

Stephen and Brent must not be going very fast because they don't have any glasses on. Everyone knows that taking direct spray hits to the eyeballs at speeds that beachcats are capable of, would knock the balls out of your sockets.
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GARY

Wouter, some corrections to the speed of an A-cat with spi.
* In higher winds I sail 150 deg of the wind not 140 deg.
* The movie stated 6-12 knots and if you watch the waves around the boat it was white caps at the downwind in the beginning and later in the movie the seas was calmer.
* If the wind was close to 12 knots in the beginning the 18 knots of downwind speed is ok according to the 150% rule you stated.

/håkan

Håkan,

As I know you have plotted your speed and course when you won the Roslagen distance race on a Capricorn F-18, I wonder what top speed did you measure then with your GPS?

Oh, another thing.. Isn't it true that you have reached even higher speeds with your new and shiny Hobie 16 than with your A-Cat.. Come on, tell the truth!

gee what a surprise beach cats still go around 25 knots. this endlessly asked question has come around again.
the slalom guys at kanaha have a contest where they pass around a gps and they went around 30knots on a good day. there is no doubt in my mind that they are faster than an F18. it doesn't make sense that a spi. would be a speed sail. they were created to power up a boat in under powered conditions. at some point they must become drag. from my experience, less is more in high winds...bearing in mind that speed sailors do use very large sails, but they do keep the drag low.

Most beach cats will have a similar top speed on a beam reach. That is not where the development of modern cat designs have gone too. These designs have been optimized for pure upwind and pure downwind work and here they will simply KILL any Hobie 16.

Wouter

wow I actually agree with Wout.

When I compare the top speed in flat water for an A-class and the Hobie 16 (I sail both) my feeling is that the Hobie 16 has potential to be faster. The max speed I have reached with the A-class is 19.5 knots without spi and 20.5 knots with spi. I haven't enough gps logs on the Hobie 16 to prove that it is faster, but it has potential for it. Rather low weight (145 kg), short mast and no centerboards.

Anyone that has a good gps log for a well sailed Hobie 16 on a double trapeze beam reach in 20 knots of wind in flat water?

/håkan

So you are saying that a H16 is faster than this beast in a big breeze?
http://www.catsailor.com/forums/sho...01&an=0&page=0#Post88001

Actually Jimi in a big breeze it may be a matter of the last man standing. Those VX40s like to go over when the breeze is up. A 16 could go over and still be righted by the crew to finish the race.

If you are only taking about speed at a moment then that is different. Those big guys like sailing in under 10. They are that efficient.

Later,
Dan

Thanks Dan!
I have seen videos of the VX40s flying a hull in 4-6 knots of breeze, they are crazy!

why bring up the H16?
aren't F18's beach cats?
apparently i'm wrong about beach cats topping out around 25 knots, because the tornado video w/bruce kendall claims a top speed of 33knots. what conditions and point of sail was that done in?
the question: how fast? is dealing with top speed not beating speed or downwind speed the way i read it. i believe most beach cats top out at a similar speed, since there are no production cats designed as speed record craft.
they are all designed to excell in moderate winds on all points of sail. in fact i was under the impression that some cats could go 20 in 10konts of wind.

" in fact i was under the impression that some cats could go 20 in 10knots of wind." - You`ll find cats or any sailing craft designed to acchieve this, will only do 10knots in 20knots of wind. As mentioned by others, the VX40`s can fly a hull in 4-6knots ? I`m assuming they are depowering drastically at 20knots, and tripping all over themselves in 25 plus, unless they reef sails. Unfortunately you can`t have a Lake Garda 5 knot specialist yacht and sail it comfortably in 30 knots, you have to choose the boat designed for a certain windrange, and sail within it.
I`ll agree with the sentiment that says that catamarans are at their most efficient in light to medium winds - you might sail at 1,5 times windspeed in 10 knots, but in 30 knots you will be sailing at 0,5 times windspeed. (if you`re upright.)