I hope my post was not misconstrued. I think it's awesome this guy outran the storm and lived to tell the tail! The Wave is one of those boats you want when the breeze comes up, simple, tough and obviously quick enough!!

It's chase the tail or tell the tale.

Regardless of what the actual speed was, I bet the darn boat felt like it was going 50 knots on the edge of a straight-wind line.

I'm definitely not knocking the story, I'm interested in the Wave. I've been caught on the F16 in similar weather and it's kind of a lonely feeling.

Lol, that's why I'm not an English major.

i always feel VERY alive after those kinda rides

A friend was an English major. The only job he could find after graduation was with the English Army.

If you want a very simple demonstration of GPS error just put yours down some place and leave it for a while (the longer the better for more variation). When you return you can see how far it has "moved", check max "speed", and review the track. Very interesting and instructive.

Also, if you wear a small GPS like I wear my 401 on my arm, be aware that it adds arm movement in with whatever is moving your entire body which is what you mean to measure. It can be a very big difference as your arm is capable of pretty quick movement. I have several witnesses that I have achieved 132 mph on snow skis just before wiping out (big, fast, arm movement) but it makes a great story. So, like any other useful tool, you need to be very aware of how it works if you want to use it most effectively.

I am a natural skeptic. I have a Wave and I have several GPS units. I would have to experience that speed while sailing a Wave to believe it and even then I would doubt it and look for a more likely explanation. Good story, though, and that's all that really matters!

I should put the 401 on my dog and see if his track leads over to the catbox at any point during the day...

Because the paw prints and his cat-poop breath aren't quite enough evidence to convict (must have OJ's jury...)

He'll just plead GPS signal error and get off scott free, only to be found getting his fix in the box again.

Just think of what you save on Doggy Treats.

I worked the Tybee 500 and followed by RV (and SPOT Tracking) and the top of the fleet averaging over 20 MPH on numberous segments. Each segment was 10 minutes from point to point. The fastest I have recorded was 27.5 mph during the reef run in 2009 (I think) in 25 -35 mph winds.

I had a peak GPS speed of 26.5 and average of 24 over 1.5 miles during a mini-macho on an N20.

We were on the way back after rounding the inside mark on the north side of the causeway. The water was pretty flat, and it was probably blowing close to 20. We were screaming /death-reaching

Herenden & Les Baumen on the black/white 20 were in front, and Ding was right behind on my hip. Les popped his chute and picked up a little speed but bad direction (too deep). We probably could have picked up a knot or two if we had the boards a little higher.

It was one of those times when you know you should do something (pull the boards up a bit), but you're too scared that any movement by driver or crew would end in disaster... I really don't like shrouds in my face, and (as Ding can attest) my crew at the time wasn't someone you should mess with

And it was true, the boat got eerily quiet once you got above the 15 knot and 20 knot humming. Once in a while you'd hear the little "chirp" from the rudder which probably was telling me it was about to cavitate (it was generation 1 style).

Thankfully we didn't crash & burn until we flipped after our turn southward...

I got you ALL beat ; had my Hobie-21 going 65mph.
NO FOOLING !!!!
Got a warning from the highway patrol that max speed
limit in California for towing a boat is 55mph, but
he lat me off with just the warning !

Bille

What is the dividing line between the concept of "sailing" and of being "wind-lofted debris"?

When you can no longer steer.

Are you still sitting on top of the boat, or are you flailing along behind it?

If you're still sitting on top, you're "sailing"! ;^)

+1.. If you're somehow still attached to the boat, that's 'sailing'. I think most of us have "sailed" cats on their side at 3+ knots before... which is a pretty good clip if you're a 4ksb (or trying to catch up to your boat)....

Ask ETNZ...

Mike