One point that I think has been missed is that I believe the open class was
tasked with longer tasks than the other classes during the WGC. That would
make their final glide a smaller percentage of their entire flight - which
would make their overall speed a bit slower that it would be if they flew
the same length tasks that the 15m and 18m ships flew.

Also, I image the difference in speeds would be greater at a soaring site
with weaker lift than found in Uvalde. The 21m and 23m ships and their high
wing loadings seem tailor made to Uvalde's very strong soaring conditions.

Paul Remde