PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
<br>
<br>Crew Weight
<br>
<br>ISAF prepares the guidelines under which sailors can go to sea to race sailboats and does not micro-manage the sport, leaving the sailors, through their classes or associations, to play the game fairly within those guidelines. There are naturally exceptions to this as seen in the Right-of-Way Rules and one I would like to impose which is to allow only one scoring system for Fleet Racing but that is a whole other subject.
<br>
<br>With regard to crew weight and the control of such, ISAF says that a class can initiate weight limits. What limits they impose, what scales they use, or how often they test is totally up to the class and the sailors. On the general issue of weight testing, I personally would like to find other simpler solutions than the inherent medical problems caused by quick weight loss imposed by trying to make a limit.
<br>
<br>There are many ways in my opinion which can help if you wish to control crew weight. The skill of being able to gear down and steer well has been replaced by "Where's the Beef!!"
<br>
<br>Several years ago, I had calls from two top-ranked women 470 sailors. The first, from Spain, said that ISAF must demand the trapezoid course as she had special sails, mast and had trained for this course. The other, from the USA, gave exactly the same reasons and demanded the old Olympic Course.
<br>
<br>After reflection, being one of the smallest Finn sailors in captivity, it became obvious that the reasons given were nonsense and that the Trapezoid favoured lighter sailors, because of the downwind finish, and the Old Olympic Course favoured heavier sailors, because of the upwind focus.
<br>
<br>Being a Finn Sailor, I always noticed that at the Finn Gold Cup the heavy sailors dominated because the first weather leg was 2 miles long. Also in big seas they have an advantage because you need the weight to drive off, while in flat water you can pinch going higher but a little slower. In the events where the weather legs were reasonable and on enclosed waters the smaller sailors were competitive.
<br>
<br>I tried to convince the Star sailors that they should not allow crews to go in front of the mast downwind which allows the gross crews an advantage both upwind which is obvious, but also downwind because they can pull the stern out of the water reducing drag so they win both ways. If they stopped the crews going on the foredeck (or standing up on any deck) and had downwind finishes the weight of the crews would go down. If they cut the roach of the sail back to where it was fifteen years ago they would depower the rig also. With these changes the crew weight would be reduced as it would not be fast to have so much "Beef". If they got rid of the hiking belt and made them hang by their thumbs the crew would have to be fit also.
<br>
<br>In the big boats if you had to keep all parts of your body inside the life rails, then "beef" would not be as important. Also I have sailed in water ballasted boats and they are great which cuts down the "beef" required.
<br>
<br>What to do about Dragons and Etchells and like boats, I do not know, but the overview is that weight limits in all sports introduce many unhealthy medical considerations.
<br>
<br>This is a challenge because allowing "More Beef" also is not good for the broadbase of sailing. We are facing the problem in the Yngling for Women in Athens. Hopefully we will try other solutions first before we impose a weight limit. A Trapezoid course and finishing downwind with possibly 1 1/4 mile first weather legs will help, instead of Windward/Leewards finishing upwind with 2 mile first beats. ISAF going to two races a day on shorter courses finishing downwind will also ensure that the weight of the crew does not escalate.
<br>
<br>Athens, so I am told in July, has good wind, but offshore, which means flat water which will also be important as smaller crews will be competitive. Sailing is a weight sensitive sport as most sports are.
<br>
<br>How ISAF addresses the issues is a great challenge and I do not think there is a simple or uniform solution.
<br><br><br>