Singlehander Trials

Haven't the Russians and GDR being doing that to their gymnasts forever?

If memory serves me right, I think the Men's weight is heavier. I was hoping for actual figures. It seems the perfect weight isn't an absolute but rotates around the weight where you aren't too penalised in the light or heavy - in other words, near the average.

But yes, given we can't have 6 weight categories, I suppose being near the average weight of the world population of female athletes would make sense. Anyone know what that weight actually is?

Are the ideal weights for Men and women in the radial the same?

I have a feeling the whole subject is much more complex than being made out by the article. I'd take bets that if the Aero 5 was put up for selection and won, we would have complaints about how women were having to diet to compete, and how unhealthy it is.

That article seems to suggest that small variations between boats and the weight they will carry, rather than lobbying, will decide which boat will be chosen. TBH, given that whatever boat is chosen, weights will converge and so sailor weight gained or lost, lobbying is a good a way, if not better, to choose the boat.

Hmm I still think it would not be good for the sport as a whole if the Laser were dropped. I think a fair compromise would be to open the rig up to other makers, make it completely open but with tight measurements, I'm sure that would bring prices down and it would keep the boat truly international. Heavier sailors could be catered for with a larger measurement than present, even based on the '0ne square metre = 10 kilos rule of thumb' a 9 mtr sail could bring the optimum sailor weight up to 90 kgs which face it is about as heavy as any serious athelete would want to be. ;-)

More local sailmakers could vie for the 'prize' and the boat would continue to be produced in numbers big enough to keep the econpmic trickle down for new club members in the future.

Just saying.