under those conditions your Tartan is doing close to double either Steve or my boat's speed.

BTW,,,, my favorite boat is the Tartan 44. That's a different story.

on a beam reach (wind on the beam) with 8 knots and my asym up I'm doing about 3. It's too pitiful if I'm going 50 miles. I do admit that even that's fun but not forever. I'll do some math and at a breaking point I start the engine and motor to the anchorage making it before dark. I don't like pulling into some new anchorage after dark with me a tired puppy. I'd rather drop the hook before sunset and sit in the cockpit with a sundowner even if it means I motor for half a day.

I'll save the fun stuff for a good flat 25 or 30 knot day at 9.5 knots. The only time that happens is when it's blowing off the land. (flat that is)