Crew Weight Limits

thatsvwhy after race eat

pie and drink guiness!!  

"carrying even more weight around the race course which is doing nothing to make the boats faster"

The whole idea of a weight limit in the first place is not to make boats faster - it is to slow down heavy crews in strong winds to make it "more fair" for the light weights!

How do you stop some one holding the weight up - put the weight track in a box with a sealed lid, test the free movement of the weights at measurement and randomly through an event.  Ultimately rely on the concept of sailor's honesty.

Hoe do you make sure the weight is right? the same way you make sure a L4000 is carrying the right number of lead weights (which also slow them down!).

For the track idea to work you would need to have a Total moveable ballast weight which included the crew and track weights to get the overall displacement equalised. still giving a overall weight limit. Plus carrying even more weight around the race course which is doing nothing to make the boats faster

Maybe a glance at the Tasar weight rule would be a thought...

Tasar's have a MINIMUM crew weight rule to overcome the problem of over keen, over athletic Youth Squad sailors cleaning up in the class.  The rule goes along the lines of "The minimum crew weight is 135Kg.  If you weigh less than this you are welcome to sail with us but you must carry corrector weights equivalent to the difference."

Maybe the keelboats could say the same thing but you have to wear helium ballons equivalent to the difference in weight...

No only would the weight equal out but you could guarantee a few laughs in the bar later with the helium...

After reading the opinions here there are many points needed to be made:

1)  A weight limit is a method to equalize racing.  No more, no less.

2)  There are many ways to get close to the limit regardless of your own build.  Think of using a teenager to bring you up to weight if too light.  If an 80kg adult takes you 15kg over the limit, talk to the lads about their diet

3)  Lack of a limit opens the door to tailoring your crew for big breezes.  This can result in people being sent home on lighter air days

I race where my limit is 820 kg, which is supposed to equate to 10 people each around 82kg.  Well my crew has several people who are lightweights (including the bowman) which often allows us to race with 11.  My job is to max out crew weight because EVERYONE knows that weight on the rail is better than being light downwind.  This is true for all racing in 8 knots or above.

Before our weight limits were introduced several boats in the 10 metre range regularly showed up to race on windy days with 14 or 15 people aboard.  Those who only had 8 or 9 might have well just gone home.  THIS is why we have weight limits.

And with regards to the 'flogging sails' comment, how about a flatter mainsail for bigger breezes?