Sailor weight and hull volume

What is it that determines the optimum sailor weight for a particular dinghy hull? I realise that hull volume will play a part, as will sail area and hiking/trapezing power. From first principles,  I'd say that a big sailor generally won't do well in a small boat but how much, and why, is a small sailor (I'm 5' 6" and 75 kg) disadvantaged in a larger volume hull

Edited by Sam.Spoons - 06 Oct 16 at 10:18pm

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Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3401	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Sailor weight and hull volume Posted: 06 Oct 16 at 10:17pm
	What is it that determines the optimum sailor weight for a particular dinghy hull? I realise that hull volume will play a part, as will sail area and hiking/trapezing power. From first principles, I'd say that a big sailor generally won't do well in a small boat but how much, and why, is a small sailor (I'm 5' 6" and 75 kg) disadvantaged in a larger volume hull Edited by Sam.Spoons - 06 Oct 16 at 10:18pm

RS400atC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 04 Dec 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3011	Post Options Post Reply Quote RS400atC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Oct 16 at 10:16am
	Lighter = less drag Heavier = more power from the rig. Your bigger boat sailed lighter will have less drag than sailed heavy, but as the beeeze increases, weight will pay. But on flat water particularly think the % difference is often less than thought, but a small % can be telling in class racing. Are we talking SMODs or a boat where you can have asail cut for a lighter person....?

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3401	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Oct 16 at 5:47pm
	Just a general musing really. I was thinking about small boats with bigger sailors (say and adult in a Tera when it's blowing its t!ts off). I do agree that the difference between boats is a smaller percentage than one might imagine.