OK, guys: I am doing the Newport to Ensenada race this year. Never did it before since its our anniversary, but I got an excused absence this year. Anyhow, I am in non-spinnaker A (cruising class)rating 133. My experience on the 40.5 is that I have a tough rating to sail to. Regardless, this thing is almost all DDW on the rumb line of 125 nm. I will pole out my 133 genny and put the main on a preventer, but I'm thinking on this race to pretty much do the DDW and only jibe downwind if (when) it gets real light. I'll try to do some VMG measurements on the way and report (assuming we are not to busy making meals with out chef aboard... really!) I do a similar race that I have placed pretty well in with no real feeling for jibing vs. DDW. I have done both, but the race has too many variables to provide a definitive anwer. BTW, any weather-junkies out there who'd care to hazard some projections of the race? Starts April 28th, noonish. Finishes whenever 20-30 hours later. Would love to know projections on wind speed and direction. John turned me on to a weather router, but I am way to cheap. Rick D.
