Interesting chart. I like the way it fills out the blanks for you. Question........Is this chart only good if you figure a straight line thru the traps buoy 6 to 1? I have found that the oval course is fastest when driven with neutral rudder on the boat, which equates to an egg shaped course. One of the secrets to a faster lap time is not using the rudder down the straights but rather letting the boat run it's natural line.
John:
Yes it considers your line down the front SAW or back SAW as being straight. That is the way that I drive the course. I have seen some VERY fast times layed down using your method though. Please consider the old article that I did which defines the strategy that I like.
http://rcboat.com/course.htm The reasoning is that using this method, you are accelerating over a longer period and turning over a shorter period. Your turn fin technology MUST be superb in order to use this method. If the boat slows down a lot because of the fin, it is better using the football shape.
One of the cool things about the spreadsheet is that you can find the optimum time that you can turn with your boat by just doing one turn and one SAW. Making changes will show you easily what you are capable of doing by just doing one turn and one SAW. Great for testing and preparing....
Since I have not been competing, maybe my ideas are out of style and obsolete.
Marty Davis