No idea what conclusion to draw except- fat boys don't win sail boat races!

These are the top ten finishers at F18 NA in Racine.

( Oops! Wt. must be in lbs.) Avg. is 166.1

The weights are in kg, I don't understand your comment about the weight being in pounds.

For example, for Misha (first place)
Boat weight: 396 pounds (boat min weight btw)
Crew weight: 315 pounds (had to carry 7.5 lbs of corrector weight)
Total (boat+crew): 712 pounds

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Oh Pete... no good ever comes out of this debate either.

average is 151.1 kG (332.42 lbs.)
/2 = 166 per

That means I can drive and have a svelt, 173 lb., Tripp Burd-esque youngster flying the kite (need to get to work on that)

Pete, you're pointing out that svelt and fat are not synonymous?

It isn't a debate, unless you make it one. I noticed years ago that most of the top cat sailors are similar build: basically the same weight and height. I'll bet it's true for Lasers and other dingies as well.

Maybe things will be perfect in the next life. Until then I could go on a diet...come to think of it I am on a diet: pork chops and mashed potatotes.

Forgot to divide the total weight by two. Math is not my strong suite.

Name a sport (something physical) that does not have a certain body type competing at the top level.

Guys competing at the top of the F18 have crew like Hunter, Tripp, Bastian etc because these guys are athletic and skilled and they win races. Weight does not always equate to less agility and I would put money on a skilled heavy team anyday.
That’s why we have boats like the 20, so the fat slow guys who never learned to sail well have a place to go after they blame their smaller boat for not being competitive. Then they can still get their but kicked by the same guys who were beating them on the 18 or 16 or wherever they just moved from.

Flame – on big guys

Okay Pete, this is your test.

Actually, I could loose weight...not really. But I can't grow any taller or make my arms longer.

At a seminar, Robbie D. was demonstrating tacking technique. He is able to reach toward the stern and put his body weight on the rear cross bar while controlling the tiller cross bar with his finger tips. I'm not able to do this, I end up an inch or two short. That's when I began to see the light. Some of us are just not top level sailors and never will be.

My solution: improve where you can, sail the boat, enjoy it for what it is and finish where you finish.

Is it from "Wind in the Willows"? "There is nothing so much fun as simply messing about in boats!" or some such.

Pete,

Believe me as I have all kinds of experience with not being able to reach stuff. If you are 1 inch short , move back. 1 inch in weight placement is not going make or break your race result. Otherwise watch the technique and adjust for your physical ability. Moving when and where you need to with finesse will however make a difference. A guy like Ashby does not drive the same as Guck because he does not have the leverage, but is equally as fast.

Where you put it and how smoothly you move it, will always be more important than how much you are putting.

Your point is well made.

each class has a "build" but with the open box boats you have a greater range. This I believe is due to the rules allowing rig variation and thus power...

The top Laser guys I recall tended to be tall.. They hike and long legs means more leverage.. Mothies are average build.. Star guys are just big period.. Forbes is/was 6'6? and 50 inch chest massive guy.. I was a kid so my memory could be faulty

Beach cat racing has always been about size and weight, that's why we have so many different classes, it was never a "One size fits all" sport, but then few physical sports are, and going to the gym helps too, cat racing is somewhat phisical when it's blowing!

Why do you think Tiger Woods was kicking fat old farts butts when he first showed up on the golf course? Because not only did he know how to swing a club, he also went to the gym. But look at him since he got married, had kids and got divorced, put on 30lbs. and started going to the nightclubs instead of the gym...

Yup, women make men week!

humm, 30 years, that's 1560 weeks. I must be very weak.

ha ha ha.