Wind & Comparable Races

True wind ranged 0.9–12.5 kn (avg 7.3 kn) — light-to-moderate, closely matching both race 7 (avg 6.6 kn, 0.1–12.7 kn) and race 8 (avg 6.1 kn, 0.6–14.0 kn), the two best comparables on wind alone. Both were sailed with fewer crew (3 and 2, vs 4 here), so any comparison should account for that difference.

Overall the boat achieved 67.5% of polar target upwind, in line with the comparable races (66.8% and 58.8%), but only 57.4% downwind — the weakest run performance of any race analyzed so far. Upwind VMG averaged 2.69 kn against a 3.75 kn target (72% of target VMG). Notably, both upwind and downwind angles sat close to their polar targets — beat TWA 42.8° vs a 41.8° target (within 1°), run TWA 149.3° vs a 147.0° target (within 2.3°) — meaning the downwind shortfall here reads as a speed problem, not a sailing-angle problem, unlike the angle-driven gaps seen in some earlier races.

Eight tacks lost 34.0% of speed on average and took 11.4s to recover, one of the slower recoveries on record; eight gybes lost 23.2%, similar to the comparable races. Three mark roundings were logged, still too few for reliable leg-by-leg splits. No start-of-race data is available for this race. Heel while running averaged 5.7° with a slight positive imbalance (+1.6° signed) — moderate, and the data doesn't show a clear trim explanation for the low downwind percentage. The two clearest strengths were upwind and downwind pointing angle, both within about 2° of target; the two most important gaps were downwind boat speed despite the on-target angle, and tack recovery time.

Coaching Recommendations

1. Downwind speed (57.4% of target) is the weakest run performance on record despite an on-target angle — a likely speed gap in trim, sail shape, or crew weight rather than a steering issue; worth focused downwind speed testing.
2. Tack recovery (11.4s) is slower than most other races on record — drill tack exits to rebuild speed faster.