It was a bit of a set up. No doubt.

Still, the Cat had the advantage of carrying a small
crew. My 83 year old mother could have driven it.

OzOne wrote

http://www.gunboat.info/home.html

Cat is right in its groove, the Pug is neither high enough to
slaughter the cat on VMG, nor low enough to do the same with a chute
up.
I note the caption af "nearly 30kts" I'd be more inclined to think
closer to 25 than 30.