Wind & Comparable Races

True wind ranged 1.4–28.3 kn (avg 16.0 kn) — the highest average and highest gust of any race analyzed, and per the race note included "challenging conditions and a gentle broach." Race 1 (2026-07-13, avg 14.2 kn, 7.0–23.9 kn) is the closest match on average wind, though this race's range extended both lighter and gustier, so the comparison is directional rather than exact.

Overall the boat achieved 83.9% of polar target upwind — close to race 1's 86.9%, the two highest upwind percentages recorded — and 75.4% downwind, ahead of race 1's 72.3%. Upwind VMG averaged 3.67 kn against a 4.63 kn target (79% of target VMG), with TWA running 8.2° wide of target (46.5° vs 38.3°) — continuing a pattern seen in several breezy races of sailing higher than the polar's upwind angle. Downwind, TWA averaged 155.6° against a 143.6° target — 12° deeper than optimal, the opposite tendency from the wide upwind angle and the largest downwind over-depth recorded after race 9.

Eight tacks lost 41.2% of speed on average with 6.1s recovery, and three gybes lost 21.9% — both broadly in line with other strong-breeze races. No mark roundings were logged this race. The Vakaros line was never pinged this race, so no distance-to-line figure is available; boat speed just after the gun was approximately 5.5 kn. Heel while reaching showed a notable side imbalance (-7.4° signed on a 12.9° average magnitude) — the largest reach-heel skew recorded, though the data can't confirm whether this relates to the reported broach or simply reflects more time on one reaching tack. The two clearest strengths were upwind and downwind speed as a share of target, both among the best results recorded; the two most important gaps were the upwind/downwind angle deviations and the reach heel imbalance.

Coaching Recommendations

1. Upwind TWA ran 8.2° wide of target and downwind ran 12° deep of target — this wide-upwind/deep-downwind pattern recurs across breezy races; continue the angle-discipline work flagged after earlier strong-wind races.
2. Reach heel showed a -7.4° signed imbalance, the largest recorded on that point of sail — worth reviewing crew positioning or trim on the reach, particularly around the reported broach.
3. Tack loss (41.2%) was the second-highest on record after race 1's 42.8% — reinforce tack drills specifically above 15 kn.