ANTHROPOMETRY AND STRENGTH PREDICTORS OF GRINDING PERFORMANCE IN AMERICA'S CLIP SAILORS

Abstract

This study aimed to determine what anthropometric and strength factors could predict performance in America's Cup grinding. Eleven male America's Cup sailors were measured for 42 anthropometric dimensions, and bench pull strength, and their power output was obtained from repeated eight-second maximal bursts of high load backwards grinding. Strength and body mass had the highest relationships with grinding performance. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that strength was the major determinant in grinding ability, explaining 64% of the known variance in grinding performance. Total arm length and total leg length were the best anthropometric predictors of performance, each explaining 9% of the remaining variance.