by jeadstx » Mon Jan 06, 2014 2:32 pm
Although my GPS does get averages, they are for the whole trip. I'm not sure what the interval is between track record times. I lost some of my 2011 tracks. You are correct that a GPS can provide a false speed if the unit is jerked rapidly. I do remember watching the GPS for a few minutes at times to get a more accurate idea of the speed. I do rember in 2011 seeing a steady 8+mph (unit was not set to knots) on a couple occasions. I do not know when that peak was recorded or what the conditions were at the time, I just know it was crossing a large bay with wave chop reported that day at 6 - 8 feet. Surfing down a wave is my guess for the high speed recording.
2011 was a very windy year, the windiest of any of the Tx200 events. The winds increased in strength each day with the last two days being 20-22 knots gusting between 25 to 30. Lots of damage among the boats that year. That year half the boats that started dropped out along the way.
In 2010, the year I dropped out (my first attempt) I was sailing alone and the boat wasn't as heavily loaded as the years after that I recall getting into a planning condition for a short period of time. 2010 the winds were more mild (5 -15 knots, depending on the day), that year I was asked to pull out by the organizers. They thought I had heat stroke, but it was really bad fatigue due to ne being able to sleep at night for the previous 4 days, just couldn't sleep. It was probably best that I pulled out. I was much better prepared in 2011. The Day Sailer didn't fail me tho.
John
1976 Day Sailer II, #8075 - Completed the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Texas 200
1952 Beetle Boat Swan Catboat
Early Rhodes 19
1973 Mariner 2+2, #2607 - Completed 2014, 2015 and 2016 Texas 200
1969 Day Sailer I, #3229
Fleet 135; Canyon Lake, Texas