Where did you read or hear that
MacGregor claimed the boat would make 25 mph with four adults, or with
water ballast? Again, honesty, rationality? - Or would being honest
take away all the fun?

Mac ads constantly list top speeds of more than 20 knots; something the boats
don't actually do under normal usage.
The comments on the Macgregor website are more laughable than most for such a
site. Here are a few clipped comments from the website about initial tests of
the M:

This boat tacks at will under main only, even gybing at low speed against the
wind when most boats will just head up. I have never been on boat with better
behavior.

Wow! Poor guy's never been on a REAL sailboat I guess!

Speed taken using GPS on both boats up to 21 knots with breeze/waves and
18-19 against. Surprise! They are even. Over and over, we drag race from
standing start to top end with no speed difference.

What kind of waves??!!!

Roger orders "full ballast tanks". The M now pulls up on a plane better with
much less bow rise and goes faster by 2 Knots.

NO mention of actual speeds anymore!
Later on it's indicated that the M and X may only do 12 knots under typical
load. The facts are burried, if you care to dig.

RB

RB