Ok, here's what I'm thinking: Measure the distance between two stationary marks with gps waypoints to gauge an accurate distance. Go out in good conditions and do several beam to broad reach runs using a stopwatch. Do the math, report back here. This sounds like a great way to kill time, no?
I very much like this idea. How long do you think the measured distance should be -- one nautical mile? Use stopwatch or GPS?
I was thinking that beach cats could have a time-distance record like the big multihulls do with their 24-hour record (except maybe a one-hour record in the case of beach cats). But Al's idea of having a pre-measured course would be much more feasible.
Catamaran fleets and sailing clubs all over the country/world could have a speed course like this and anybody could run it at any time and keep a copy of their GPS track and speed; right?
It would not be as official as what the big boats do, because there would not be an outside observer, and their GPS results would not be broadcasted to an independent agency for verification. But at least it would give us a lot of anecdotal evidence on the honor system (somebody could do the run on a powerboat, and who would know the difference?).
I think most people would be honest about it. And it would be a FUN thing to do and give a goal to shoot for. Better than a video game. And something for fleets to do on fun days when they aren't racing (or when there is too much wind to actually race).
And doing it as part of a group activity, would help to ensure validity of the speed claims, as opposed to just going out and doing it when nobody else is around.
