A very nice Windsat pass from 2300Z lends a lot of credence to the 0100Z ship report of 50 knots. This ship report came in 240 km from the estimated coc, well-within NHC's 175 m northeast quad 34 knot range ring, and out of the "right" direction given the location of the report ("right," as in much more indicative of the surface cyclonic circulation than of the "Noel Nor'easter" underway).

There is a bounty of entirely believable 35-45 knot wind barbs in this scat pass, both to the north of the center, as well as to the southeast, within the stronger Caribbean inflow. The distance of the stronger winds from the actual center, along with Noel's several-day interaction with an associated ULL, suggests to me that Noel is still something of a hybrid, which also might help explain why he fared so well over Haiti and the DR.
(Windsat link)

We are in a real data void as far as recon here. It would be quite helpful if they would fly around Cuba, along the southern coast, as well. To continue flights to the north of the island is to give up the opportunity to see how much the center is or is not actually offshore, in the Caribbean, as well as to collect more wind data and get a better handle on the true max. sustained winds (not just those being affected by the High to the north).