10-13-2008
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 5,490
Rep Power: 7
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Point of sail matters as well. I've "beaten" 38 footers in my 33 footer in informal, 20 knots apparent races (you know, two boats going the same way, you creep closer, harden up and lay her down to get the decks wet!), and it was purely because a close-hauled 33 footer with a 15 foot J and an attentive hand on the tiller will realize its full potential more often than a 38 foot cruiser with roller furling, wheel steering and loads of gear aboard indifferently stowed (I guess at the last bit based on hobby-horsing!).
Same boats, same air on a broad reach, and I'm creamed. My main is like a child's kite thanks to 1970s design ideas.
So the variables are many: The smaller boat won't punch through the waves as well, and the motion can be more severe and tiring. The larger boat thus wins via attrition before sail technique or ratings are even factored in.
Similarly, in very light air, there are always one or two boats in a division that can keep moving while everyone else is slatting and chewing their nails. A clean bottom and super-attentive trimmers and knowing where to put your crew (and when to keep them totally still) can keep you "ghosting" to line honours when all about you are becalmed.
Don't let "the specs" guide you too closely, as they are ultimately abstractions from reality and theory forced into the same bed.
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