In your data, do you have any real speeds, as in straight line, spinnaker run speeds on each leg, or are they VMG type speeds? Does it show actual speed on different angles and points of sail? Or is it calculated by the total distance vs. the total time?

My Garmin Etrex handheld (taped to the boom) only records "max speed" and at that time I'm usually too busy trying to keep the boat upright to see what it is! At the end of the day it will only show total distance and total time for an "average speed" which is useless, as I'm sailing slower as I come in to the beach.

I would like to try running at different angles downwind to see which is fastest, raw speed wise, and then do the geometry to see where the breakover point is for sailing "low and slow" on a shorter course vs. "high and fast" over more distance, for the best VMG from A to C mark.

Oh, and I can tell you how one boat beat the other even without GPS data. The skipper on the winning boat is usually better. He knows when to go high and fast vs. low and slow. He see's the puffs coming and is ready and waiting to use them to extend his lead. He's looking back, upwind, watching for those puffs to come, while everyone behind him is looking foreward at him, not looking for the puffs behind them.

There is a lot of skill involved, it's not all about the math.

Maybe in the upcoming F16 Global Challenge, Nov. 9-14, Gulfport, Fl, we can get some data if enough people are carrying GPS units that you can get tracks downloaded from. I've never downloaded any off my Etrex.