NewsA 2010 review by the Transpac Technical committee of the wind matrix identified two important improvements that the BOD has approved. The 2009 matrix had a component where a boat is rated for sailing at 150 degrees true wind angle. New, fast designs never sail this deep. To fix this the TWA 150 component is evaluated so that no yacht is rated as sailing below their VMG TWA, but instead are jibed , sailing their VMG angle above the 150 course until they reach the “lay line”, jibing onto the opposite gybe for the “mark” that is TWA 150 from the starting point .
Also, the 2009 matrix Optimum Run component is calculated with equal time on each gybe. In actuality on a typical race, in the trades, significant time is spent on the starboard gybe until that location where it makes sense to Optimum Run to the Molokai. To implement that change, half of the VMG Run is now rated as TWA 165 with boats whose VMG angle is 165 or wider are sailed at their speed on the VMG angle and boats whose VMG angle is tighter are jibed in the manner described above for tight winded boats at 150 TWA.
No changes have been made for the 2015 race.
