QUALITY OF DINGHY HIKING: EFFECTS ON SPEED AND HEADING

Abstract

Dinghy hiking uses the sailor’s bodyweight to produce a ‘righting moment’ which counteracts the moment of force caused by the wind on the sail. However, hiking is a physically demanding activity and maintaining quality hiking technique throughout a race is essential in competitive sailing. A land-based hiking simulator has been used to assess hiking technique, but no data were available to relate simulator results to on-water performance. This project evaluated the effect of decreased quality hiking positions on actual on-water dinghy speed and heading.