<< In the real world, the empirical data
suggests 5.5 is achievable nearly indefinitely provided a fair wind and
large enough sails (its actually remarkably easy to achieve with the genoa
and a stiff breeze), but I don't think anyone here has held a higher speed
than that for any appreciable length of time. My GPS once reported I was
holding an average speed of 6 knots for about 10 minutes. The long time
period and averaging should be enough for GPS errors to cancel. This was an
add situation where a low spit of land upwind kept the water calm but the
wind stiff. >>
Last month, coming back from Catalina, alone in the boat with genny and full
main and about a 20 mph wind on my port quarter I was averaging 6.5 to 7.5
mph. Once I glanced at my gps and it said 8.1 mph. I don't doubt it, I was
moooovin'! Shortly after that I shortened sail to a working jib.
Ralph Aeschliman
HMS-18 #67 Moby Duck
Flagstaff, AZ