More On Wearing Additional Weight

If there is no further discussion from the floor, I move that we close this debate and move on.

Anyone second the motion?

Ed. There was no seconder to this motion, so it appears that discussion will continue....

Peter
PEpstein@Compuserve.com

I guess that I can't stay away from the issue of weight either. I would believe that one would be hard pressed to find significant medical data regarding wearing additional weight. It seems to me that wearing additional weight, if well secured, would merely mimic a few additional pounds on your body's frame. Perhaps something like what happens over the holidays .

There are many studies of overweight people which do suggest that obesity contributes significantly to wear and tear on the joints. But how much additional weight are we planning to carry? And are we carring it around with us on a daily basis? If crew members are fit, as this wonderful sport requires, partaking in a few races, practice, or whatever else, in my humble opinion should not contribute significantly to the destruction of joints and bones. There is one factor which I did not mention, age. This is also something to take into consideration. Joints and cartillage (sp?) wear out over our lifetimes.

As for the medical reasons, it seems as if we may want to leave the choice of wearing weight to the discression of the individual competitor.

If wearing weight becomes the "great equalizer" between competitors then perhaps all will truly be able to sail on equal footing. Perhaps an analogy is NASCAR racing where the skills of the drivers and their support teams determine the winners.

Nor do I suggest that we abandon the ISAF, I merely think that if the majority of competitors in a one design class are in favour of an exception to the weight rule then that alone should not jeopardize our membership (in the ISAF).

Somehow, somewhere the answer is out there.(G*D now I sound like Fox Mulder )

Peter
PEpstein@Compuserve.com

My question is: Does anyone enjoy wearing weight? Does it help them? (Perhaps more solid on the wire, boat more controllable) I would really like to hear from crews who wear it, and they can respond to me directly, if they so choose.

I really understand the lighter guys' need for weight, but was pretty surprised to see Bill Masterman wearing it!

Allan Johnson
Crew USA 8263 & 7200
505 Fleet 19 Captain

I think the spectra trap wires could handle 8 more pounds....

Personally I take no side on the issue but I can't help thinking that if I were a crew I might think differently.

The discussion Ian's article produced did however leave me with a couple of points I would like to make.

i) The idea that the 505 class doesn't like the ISAF telling it how to run its racing and would be better off running it's own affairs is ok only if there exists a large body of people willing to take on that mantle and I doubt that that is the case.

ii) As I recall, when the new pumping rules were introduced in 1992? as three per wave with mainsail pumping only allowed using the last mainsheet take off from the boom, it was allowable for each class to have its own version of the rule and most classes did. Wouldn't this be a good idea now ?

Good sailing,

Robin Boardman GBR 8511

Robin Boardman - robin@yelmorb.demon.co.uk
Bolton, Lancs, U.K.

>>OK, I have to finally jump in....

Hi Allan,
I've been reading and monioring all the comments re weight and must say I have trouble accepting the argument "for weight". I've done both for so damn long now there is nobody that has had more "experience" than myself. (Crewing 505's since 1960)

You're [right] about enjoyment. It is a pleasure to fast tack a 505 when not encumbered with weight around your shoulders. Hardly anyone has mentioned the fact that a lighter boat goes faster downwind!! But most importantly, given that small people and large people alike presently wear weight, where is the comparative advantage? If no one wears weight and if everyone wears weight, the competitive comparison remains basically neutral.

Surely the most exciting aspect of 505 racing is the competition we enjoy. If the "playing field" is even what does it matter. A 505 rig is flexible enough to cater for more or less weight and remain competitive. (That's been the case now for 40 years. Dennis Surtees and I used to "cream" the heavy weights on windy San Francisco Bay in the sixties nad early seventies - Why? - because we sailed and trained at least three times a week) Why should 1997 be any different. My strong feeling is, let's not "can it" until we run with few a season or two. My guess is crews will feel so much more agile in a boat without weight they will never want to return to using it again.

I've purposely not injected my thoughts on this topic too much until now as I've wanted the members to air their views. Also we would be foolish to snub the I.S.A.F. on this matter until we have tried it for at least one or two major regattas.

Regards,
"Pip" Pearson
International President
AUS ????

Graham Alexander
614 424 7709 w
614 861 1491 h
email addr alexandg@battelle.org

Sail fast but sail smart.
USA7685 and USA4593