Crew Weight Limits

I don't think they are set "so low". 270kg for an SB3 is an average of 90kg. That is pretty heavy for a fit male and it is almost inconceivable that an athletic woman would weight that much. I know that theorectically you can sail an SB3 4-up, but almost nobody does.

Do you suffer if you have a lightweight crew in a keelboat? Absolutely yes. I owned a 707 for several years. Having 4 crew on the rail instead of 5 cost 3-4 boatlengths up a mile-long beat. You don't get it back downwind. Repeat that over 3-4 beats and it is going to make a huge difference to your finishing position.

Almost all major keelboats operate a weight limit and it invariably pays to sail close to it. If you don't have a weight limit, all the winning will be done by large men. Most owners find it is hard enough to find good, keen, talented crew without needing them to be heavy-weight males as well.  

If you want a class without weight limits, sail a 707.

On the big boats you''ll get flicked off if you're too heavy or you'll be given a warning to lose 5 kilos. The answer - Eat less pies, move to another class or change crew. These are issues faced by ALL sailors so you can hardly claim it unfair or whinge about it. Weight limits are placed on boats not because someone reckons that it sounds like a nice number - the boats design, handling and performance are taken into account to give the best weight to achieve the best results all round. This means that you can go to an event on the limit, knowing that no one is going to have an advantage if the breeze picks up.

I reckon weight limits are a good thing but a real bi-atch to stick to!! 

I think you misunderstood the point!

If you fancy sailing a Finn then you can...there is NO Class RULE that says a guy wieghing 140Kg cannot sail one!  It is the classes that have crew weight limit rules that I rail against!

If you are lucky enough to only weigh 70Kg then it makes sense to sail a Laser or similar....

I feel that the class associations that bar people crewing their boats with who they want to sail with are being disciminating against heavy people...They are often lead by the nose by the manufacturers who want the boat to have a certain image.....I really believe that heavy crews in boats like the Cork 1720 and SB3 ONLY have the advantage on the MINORITY of days....eg Force 5 plus when they can and do sail flatter and faster than the lightweights...It is all a con by the builders and sailmakers....Lightweights ragging their non reefable sails up the beat tear out their sails quicker than a heavy weight team who can keep their sails driving in the heavy stuff...Us heavy boys ALWAYS pay the penalty in sub force 5 by not sailing so quickly......therefore weight limits on these boats are total BS.

Interestingly SB3's weight limit at 270kgs, while the Etchells is at 285kgs, average weight of 95kgs each.

I guess the big guys like DC wouldn't be able to do it if it was less.

Swan 45 weight limit is 950kg. They are now having random weigh ins through the event, not one weigh in at the start. It means that "dipping" for the weigh in is out, the crew has to be that weight through out the event. The total weight includes the owners - should this be the case? Feels a bit mean, they paid all that money, and then need to diet to make the weigh in.