Speed...

[zz4gta]

Interesting thread. A lot of "hull speed is 6 kts, your transducer is screwed up". All this coming from people who don't own or sail the Merit 25.

FOR THE GIVEN CONDITIONS is the most important part. Sorry bud, you didn't hit 8+ knots through the water in ONLY 9 knts of wind. HOWEVER, its probably not that far off. I've done OVER 8knts "SPEED OVER GROUND" verified with 2 GPS units with flat water, 12-14kt winds, crew on the rail, and very little (less than a knt) following current close hauled. Regardless of weather or not the transducer was working, the Merit 25 really hauls tail. Size doesn't matter, what I see every other weekend is solid proof for me and "theoretical" hull speed is just another number. Last weekend I raced on another merit 25 in the potomac river and saw over 6knts most of the time and sustained 7 knts for a measurable period of time.

The conditions, 9 knts, poorly trimmed, maybe hiking with old sails? You were fighting a current and probably are a little off on your calibration. But don't fret, they're just numbers.

This thread could be shortened to about 4 or 5 posts to answer his question. Use the PM function.

[tommays]

I don't want to get anybody upset but the Merit PHRF rates in the 168 to 174 range and that gives a pretty clear idea about it performance ability

I saw 7 to 9 knots GPS many times this summer BUT it was never on a race day were i had to go DEAD UPWIND and it was surely blowing

My first J24 Altercation saw spinnaker speeds well over 20 KNOTS 3 times it was blowing insanely never lasted more than 25 seconds and always always always ended with the Windex submerged

So it goes with out saying in 2008 10 to 12 Knots which requires a BIG wave to surf down on is about all the risk i put a 27 year old hull and 52 year old body through

We did one long race this year in the J24 of 34 miles in JAM(jib and main)in 6:31 and that was good to beat out many large boats straight up and corrected,17 miles right on the nose home in 18 to 20 knots and 5.5 to 6 in the seas that wind speed creates was all she wrote

My arch rival on a 117 rated boat did it in 5:46 so while staying with in 45 minutes against a 39' boat was good we were beat



There are really fast 27 ' boats like and Antrim 27 that rate in the 84 range


When racing on boats in the 117 range 7 knots upwind is really fast and when we start 5 minutes behind the the 168 PHRF boats and catch them before finishing a windward /leeward 4 leg 4 mile race the upwind speed reality of boats with this rating becomes clear