First, we don't know what the top speed of USA-17 is....but I've heard (from some sources that have proven to be rather reliable) rumors that put USA-17 in Hydroptere category. Besides, Hydroptere is only fast on deep reaches and when the wind is just right...it goes upwind like a three toed sloth and can hardly move in anything under 18 knots.



While I do agree it's a bit presumptuous for them to make a wide blanket statement like that, in general and in the majority conditions and points of sail, I would say that USA-17 is faster than Hydroptere.