[quote=samc99us]Mischa hit 30 MPH in the 2010 Tybee 500 on a Hobie Wildcat. In the same conditions, we touched 27 MPH. These are not B.S speeds; the 60nm course was covered in 2h30m by the lead pack, so an average speed of 24 knots was maintained by the highly experienced N20 and F18 sailors at the front of the fleet.
Definitely sustained speeds over 25 kts are tough, really tough to maintain on these boats. We were out two weekends ago in 25 ktsg27kts on the Infusion Mk.2. It was cold with no chase boat in the water and only one other boat out with us, with less experience in big breeze than us. We did not push the boat hard, didn't really need to throttle back but the puffs were large and we were still minutes ahead of boat #2, so pushing harder wasn't prudent. I'd be surprised if we hit 22-23 kts on that day. Felt more like 19 kts max. We were fully depowered and full airborne with just the rudders and back 4" of the leeward transom in the water upwind in one puff over 30 kts. That was in flat water.
That's the reality-some conditions really demand throttling back (see Spindrift 2 in current Route du Rhum) on these powerful boats. Semi-Foiling and full foiling lets you push harder in some conditions and maintain higher averages.[/quote]
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