A DYNAMOMETRIC METHOD FOR THE EVALUATION OF HIKING IN LASER BOATS

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a dynamometric method for the evaluation of hiking in Laser boats. The boat’s and sailor’s centres of mass, the hiking distance and the hiking moment were calculated from the ground reaction force, acquired by two force plates located under the boat hoof. Three sailors performed different hiking positions varying their hip and knee angles. Pearson’s coefficient was used to verify the correlation between the measures obtained through the dynamometric method and a kinematic method. A very high correlation was observed between the methods (r=0.99) and the mean error was approximately 1% for both hiking distance and moment. Thus, the new method seems to be valid and efficient since it measured the variables in a fast and precise way, facilitating the analysis and assisting sailors and coaches on decision taking.