If Boats were Football Teams

who made up that ranking?!?!
dunno bout you but i find a cycle race up a huge hill way more challenging that any of those...

I'd say:

1) Sailing

2) Long distance cycling

3) Marathon running

4) Tennis

5) Cross-country skiing

6) Swimming

thats because it doesn't require serious physical exertion. higher, faster, stronger remember. isn't that why they ditched powerboat racing

I reckon the rankings which were quoted to me are about right. Sailing is first because it covers all aspects of the sports and is probably based upon the skills needed for top level High Performance Racing and off-shore yacht racing. When you consider the levels of physical and mental skills in these areas, I don't think you can find a more demanding sport. Think of sailors like Ellen MacArthur, Emma Richards, Pete Goss, Tony Bullimore, the guys who have done legs on the VO70s, etc, and think of the environment they are racing in and what faces them every day with no way of escape and compare that to other sports and I find it hard to say any other sport is more challenging. At the top levels of High Performance sailing, the fitness levels have been compared to the levels of a profesional boxer but at the same time, imagine the ring constantly moving and the competition constantly changing. For top level keel boat racers, the fitness levels have been compared to those of a rugby player but in the same instance, the field of play in a rugby match is not constantly changing. Although both boxing and rugby may inflict more physical pain upon the people participating, the mental demands opposed upon sailors is much higher and raise sailing to a higher level in the most challenging stakes. Formula 1 racing is seen as a highly dangerous sport but over the last 4 decades, I reckon there have been more fatalities involved with sailing. When the BBC were conducting their 2005 sports personality of the year competition, I personally felt gutted that Ellen didn't win it because I felt her achievement was the greatest and in her case, a mistake would have very serious consequences compared to those which may happen on a cricket field but I suppose the results are based on public perception of a sport and not the actual physical risk and demands.

Originally posted by allanorton Originally posted by 49erGBR735HSC Officially, motorsport is a sport because in the rankings for most challenging sports it goes: 1)Sailing 2)F1 Racing 3)Equestrian I would say- 1) Pro cycling (eg Tour de France, 7hrs in the saddle most days, in all weathers, for 3 weeks!!!) 2) Ironman Triathlon 3) Boxing ( I wouldn't want to do it!) 4) Marathon running 5)Formula 1 Football doesn't make the list even, its a game not a sport.

I would agree with that list if it was headed most physically enduring but when ranking sports as most changelling, I reckon whoever compiled the list would have considered physical endurance as one aspect to consider in the overall stakes.