Wind & Comparable Races

True wind ranged 7.0–23.9 kn (avg 14.2 kn) — the windiest race analyzed so far, and noticeably stronger than any previous race on record. The closest available comparable is race 4 (avg 10.0 kn, 0.0–24.0 kn), which touched a similar top gust but averaged well below this race's steadier breeze, so the comparison below should be read as loose rather than a close match.

Overall this was a strong percent-of-target race: 86.9% of polar target upwind (the best upwind percentage recorded in the dataset so far) and 72.3% downwind, in a genuinely powered-up breeze. Upwind VMG averaged 3.6 kn against a 4.59 kn target (78% of target VMG) — a smaller share than the raw boat-speed percentage suggests, because upwind TWA ran 11.1° wide of target (49.4° vs 38.3°), the largest angle deviation seen in any race analyzed so far. Downwind, TWA averaged 158.9° against a 169.8° target — 10.9° shy of optimal, also the largest downwind angle gap recorded so far, meaning the boat sailed noticeably higher than target on both points of sail rather than pressing to the polar angles.

Eleven tacks lost 42.8% of speed on average — the highest tack loss recorded — but recovered quickly at 4.4s; only one gybe was logged (12.6% loss). Three mark roundings were logged, too few for reliable leg-by-leg splits. No start-line position data is available (no Vakaros track was logged for this race), but boat speed just after the gun was approximately 6.1 kn. Heel while beating averaged 23.5°, the highest of any race analyzed, and heel while reaching also jumped to 15.9° — consistent with the stronger breeze; the data doesn't establish that this heel level caused the wide angles, but all three appearing together in the windiest race on record is worth testing with more disciplined depowering. The two clearest strengths were upwind/downwind speed as a share of target and fast tack recovery; the two most important gaps were the large angle deviations on both beat and run, and very high tack speed loss.

Coaching Recommendations

1. Upwind angle ran 11.1° wide of target and downwind ran 10.9° shy of target — both the largest angle gaps recorded, and both point the same direction (sailing higher than optimal). Prioritize angle discipline over pure boat speed in this much breeze.
2. Tack speed loss (42.8%) was the highest on record — work on flatter, more controlled tack entries to cut the loss even though recovery was already fast.
3. Beat heel averaged 23.5°, the highest recorded — more proactive depowering (vang/cunningham/traveler) could help keep the boat flatter and may ease the high-angle tendency noted above.