Speed

[Guest]

Wondering what you are sailing and how fast it goes in certain conditions.

Mine is a 32 foot ferro Atkins " Thistle" 10 tons with 27.5 feet on the waterline ,10 ' 3" beam, long keel with a approximate sail area of 45 square metres with the genoa and main.

In light conditions and flat water she does around half the wind speed, in 10 knots to 12 knots she does 4.5 to 5.5 knots all to windward. Once it gets to 20 knots she can do hull speed to windward on fairly flat water which is 7.2 knots. See 7.8 knots peak getting pushed by waves in your normal NE sea breeze coming in from out from gissy. Fastest run ever was a broad reach across Hawkes bay one night averaged 7.2 knots on the gps!! Saw 8 knots that night!!

From my observations it seems lighter yachts can get to hull speed in less wind ( displacement types) and thats the main difference in regards to speed.