If the breeze was truly 25 knots with gusts to 40, the PRO should have cancelled racing (time to pull out the short boards!). It is simply STUPID to go out in those conditions and nearly every class would cancel racing. From your description though, it sounds like it was blowing less than that because 99.9% of the catamaran sailors in this country (including myself) cannot control a beach cat in 40 knot gusts. I really feel that my limit is around 22-25 knot winds (it's not fun after that) and that depends upon the sea state. You were lucky and I hope your experience will give you a different perspective in the future.

Bob Hodges
A-Class USA 230