I'm not too sure whether the AC boat points so high when travelling at 11 knots boatspeed and flying that very large overlapping jib.

There is an aerodynamic problem in such conditions that is called angle of attack; as measured between the centerline of the boat and the apparent wind.

Sloop rigged beach cats typically have such an angle of attack that is between 20-25 degrees. These beach cats also have relatively small and narrow jibs (25% of the mainsail area); high aspect jibs also called blade jibs. The AC boat don't have these as their jibs are almost the same size as their mainsails.

For an AC boat to point 30 degrees of the wind and attain 11 knots of boatspeed in 15 knots of wind would require their rigs to operate at 17 degrees angle of attack. A beach cat travelling at 13.5 knots at a 45 degree upwind angle (and 24 degrees angle of attack) would have the exact same VMG.

Now I really don't believe that an AC rig can operate at max efficiency (or drive) when angled to the apparent wind at only 2/3rds of the optimally drawing catamaran rig.

Besides what a shame for the AC, a boat at what 70 ft (?), to have problems with 20 foot beachcats.

Lets compare the AC's boats to the 60 and 70 ft trimarans like groupama.

I see the monohullers reaching for the tissues already.

Wouter