I am interested in speed data for different cats. With the widespread use of gps and data processing software, there must be a lot of folks with interesting info on how fast their cats are going. It would be great if there was a venue to post this data - maybe a dedicated thread or website (like the windsurf and kite surf folks do).

Here is speed data for my best H14T run this summer (see below GSPAR PRO output). For those who don't want to wade through it, the summaries are:

Best average 10 sec run = 18.6 knots
Best average one hour run = 10 knots
Best average 500 meter run = 16.1 knots
Best average nautical mile = 12.1 knots

The max 10 sec speed run was trapped out at 115 degrees to the wind. Wind speed was around 17 knots gusting to 20 knots. Seas were smooth to small waves.

The use of analytical software for gps data is necessary because of the unreliability of instanteous readings e.g. the peak indicated speed for this day out was 19.5 knots.

Cheers,
Sullivar


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This page was build with GPSAR Pro. Visit www.gpsactionreplay.com
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Total Duration : 02:48:01
Total Distance : 42.106 Km
Total Avg. Speed : 8.12 Knots

Duration over 10 Knots : 01:10:46
Distance over 10 Knots : 26.443 Km
Average over 10 Knots : 12.11 Knots

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Date : 1990-12-24T18:45:1Z
Location : latitude=38.05784226 longitude=-122.17462064
Wind direction : 300

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Min sats : Off
Max HDoP : Off
Doppler : Off
Integration Method : Rectangular
One per run : On
Alpha Proximity : 50.0 meters
Software Name=GpsarPro Version=4.28

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5 best 1 second (at least) average = 30.86km/h [16.66Knots]

1 second run n°1 = 34.46km/h [18.61Knots] (134.0 m. in 14.000 s.) -
1 second run n°2 = 32.80km/h [17.71Knots] (9.1 m. in 1.000 s.) -
1 second run n°3 = 29.14km/h [15.74Knots] (137.6 m. in 17.000 s.) -
1 second run n°4 = 29.08km/h [15.70Knots] (8.1 m. in 1.000 s.) -
1 second run n°5 = 28.82km/h [15.56Knots] (96.1 m. in 12.000 s.) -


5 best 10 second (at least) average = 29.55km/h [15.96Knots]

10 second run n°1 = 34.46km/h [18.61Knots] (134.0 m. in 14.000 s.) -
10 second run n°2 = 29.14km/h [15.74Knots] (137.6 m. in 17.000 s.) -
10 second run n°3 = 28.82km/h [15.56Knots] (96.1 m. in 12.000 s.) -
10 second run n°4 = 27.68km/h [14.95Knots] (130.7 m. in 17.000 s.) -
10 second run n°5 = 27.65km/h [14.93Knots] (115.2 m. in 15.000 s.) -


5 best 3600 second (at least) average = 6.80km/h [3.67Knots]

3600 second run n°1 = 18.50km/h [9.99Knots] (18,523.8 m. in 3,605.000 s.) -
3600 second run n°2 = 15.51km/h [8.37Knots] (15,522.8 m. in 3,604.000 s.) -


5 best 500 meter (at least) average = 27.65km/h [14.93Knots]

500 meter run n°1 = 29.81km/h [16.09Knots] (579.6 m. in 70.000 s.) -
500 meter run n°2 = 27.74km/h [14.98Knots] (500.9 m. in 65.000 s.) -
500 meter run n°3 = 27.18km/h [14.67Knots] (528.4 m. in 70.000 s.) -
500 meter run n°4 = 27.01km/h [14.58Knots] (525.2 m. in 70.000 s.) -
500 meter run n°5 = 26.53km/h [14.33Knots] (516.0 m. in 70.000 s.) -


5 best 1852 meter (at least) average = 21.51km/h [11.61Knots]

1852 meter run n°1 = 22.45km/h [12.12Knots] (1,876.7 m. in 301.000 s.) -
1852 meter run n°2 = 21.63km/h [11.68Knots] (1,874.6 m. in 312.000 s.) -
1852 meter run n°3 = 21.50km/h [11.61Knots] (1,863.0 m. in 312.000 s.) -
1852 meter run n°4 = 21.09km/h [11.39Knots] (1,863.0 m. in 318.000 s.) -
1852 meter run n°5 = 20.88km/h [11.27Knots] (1,861.4 m. in 321.000 s.) -

On my 5.2, my best speed sustained for longer than 10 secs is 19 mph over 25 secs (peak 20.6)...around 650 feet or so IIRC, double trapped. I have several runs between 10 and 25 secs averaging 19 mph. Never averaged 20mph for longer than 10 secs.



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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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Rob, did you measure those speeds with Eric's GPS?

No, used mine.

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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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Hobie 14's are speed demons.


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Tyler holmes
Panama city, FL

Boat whore
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i averaged 12.1 mph for almost 4 hours once or 45 miles

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Nacra 6.0 NA
Ogden Dunes, IN
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i would like to have a large led screen(6"by 4") that hangs on the boom for sail trim. when we race my friends hunter 25, his gps is useful for sail trim, seems just flying teltales leaves some speed on the table. those minor adjusments can gain as much as a knot. doesn't have to have all the advanced functions, just real time speed in an easy to read place would be nice.

--
Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook!
bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
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coastrat

when we race my friends hunter 25

Hunter 25 PN 92.3
Prindle 16 PN 77.5

How do you handicap??? 4 big guys on the Cat? You carry all the supplies for both?? You have to race up and back??

Heck my Bucc18 kills Hunters and I'm only PN 86.9 w/SPI and I don't use a spinny!

Back to the original poster... the Portsmouth Tables are a pretty good index of speed of one boat vs another. I will agree that modified sail rigs (Hooters, etc.) can completely change speed.

Do we have any RC-30 owners on the site? Now that is a fast cat.

clarify: we race his hunter every year in the dauphin island race, i skipper and he crews(he is still a relative newbie). he is a college buddy and we do this for funzies but he does have a garmin gps with all kinds of cool functions. the most useful function of all is the real time speed, forget everything you know about sail trim, trim to speed! it surprises me sometimes to go faster when you are not trimed to tradional methods! thats why i want a "speedomer" in an easy to see place with large display(water proof w/ a kicking boom box).

--
Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook!
bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
--

Thanks for the comments.

Lonbordin: good point about comparing cats using DPN. But DPN is about VMG over an upwind/downwind race. To me, the reason for cats is speed - and in that way cats might be more like windsurfers and kite boarders than monos. If I want to DPN I'm probably better off sailing with a bunch of other people in lasers (I do that to, and its fun in a different way). To know how fast my cat is capable of going its all about beam reaching back and forth in a good breeze (not upwind, downwind).

Tryong for max speed is not entirely pointless either. I've learned alot about my boat trying to go faster on a reach. What rotation, sail shape, rake etc etc should I use on this point of sail. Some of the interesting things I've learned on the H14 are - max speed without trapezing ~15-16 knots, max speed trapezing >18 knots. Tha challenge for me was making the transition to trapeze on a broad reach in a strong wind. Also a jib barber hauler on the H14T has made a huge difference - gives lift and speed on a reach instead of plowing the bows in. My (trivial) obsession has always been - is the H14 capable of a (real) 20 knot run? Haven't been there yet but maybe it is possible.

Coastrat: I agree about tuning off the gps. I have learned that going a little deeper than what looks good on the tell tails often gives up another half a knot - you'd never know without the gps. I keep the gps in a clear wet bag clipped to the tramp. It works OK but have capsized a couple of times trying to read current speed instead of watching what I'm doing

Cheers,
Sullivar

I've yet to see a situation where two boats of a similar DPN have that much in the way of difference in top speeds. It seems to me, as always, it's the sailor that makes the difference.

For instance you on a H14T vs me. I weigh 245 (naked) and don't have that much experience with the H14T... but maybe there is a sub 100lb teen with the right experience that could totally make 20kt on a H14T.

I've had a GPS on board many times but I find looking at my wake is easier in looking for overall speed. I agree that looking at the sails/telltales only tells part of the story.

I promise once the Trac18 is on the water I'll contribute my GPS readings to the thread. :)



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LIVE LIFE... Dave Wilcox
Trac 18
Bloomington, IN
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Quote

I am interested in speed data for different cats. With the widespread use of gps and data processing software

how did you get this data? Ive heard of Garmin watches made for running but they make a waterproof watch but howd you get wind direction?

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Nacra 6.0 NA
Ogden Dunes, IN
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Quote

I find looking at my wake is easier in looking for overall speed.

Word.

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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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Kevin219: any gps receiver will do for recording the track - you don't need anything expensive. I use a WAAS enabled Geko ($50). The key thing is the analytic software. I use GSPAR (free trial for 90 days) but there are many similar alternatives. The software generates a track from the data stored in your revceiver, and calculates a range of speed outputs etc. The wind direction is estimated by the software from the track angles. The GSPAR site has a comprehensive (free) manual that describes the software in great detail.

Cheers,
Sullivar

Jeeze! I just like going fast. If she's humming and that hull is trying to lift, I'm too busy to check gps and speed. Better to have a pulse monitior!

thanks sullivar im going to look into that and ill get back to you

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Nacra 6.0 NA
Ogden Dunes, IN
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used to use gpsar

now use

http://www.mapmytracks.com/erie

click up the speeds to x32
toggle the speed map
set speed reading to mph/kph/nm
select between sat.pics or map background on left side buttons]
search for other cat sailing activity

coastrat

i would like to have a large led screen(6"by 4") that hangs on the boom for sail trim.[snip]just real time speed in an easy to read place would be nice.

Saw this photo of a well done rig.

thats what i'm talking about! those little bitty adjustmens in the sheeting(esp jib) can make a big difference over a long course. monday i was sailing direct downwind and had my jib wing on wing, the wind would shift and the jib would be backwinded for a minute and i swear the boat was faster while it was...easy to read, real time speed data, with a kicking boom box...and a kegerator...shouldn't be to hard?

--
Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook!
bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
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