Indicators of maximal hiking performance in Laser sailors

Abstract

Laser class sailors have to hike out, i.e. hook their feet under the toe straps near the centreline of the boat and hold their upper bodies over the edge of the boat, to counteract the heeling forces generated by the sails. To identify the parameters that are associated with maximal hiking performance, this cross-sectional observational study measures various knee extensor and hip flexor muscle performance characteristics in 55 Laser sailors and correlates each with the area-under-the-curve hiking moment over 3 min of hiking on a hiking dynamometer (HM180). Our results showed that higher body mass and HM180 were significantly associated with better race scores (Spearman's rho = - 0.69 and - 0.62, respectively, both P < 0.01) in male sailors who participated in the National Inter-School Laser competition. Body mass (Pearson's correlation coefficient, r > or = 0.95, P < 0.01 in both males and females), maximum voluntary isometric strength of the quadriceps (r > or = 0.80, P < 0.01 in both males and females), and 3-RM knee extension strength (r > or = 0.80, P < 0.01 in both males and females) were associated with a higher HM180. The correlations between height, abdominal muscle endurance (crunches), explosive lower body strength (vertical jumps), cycling time-to-exhaustion, quadriceps strength endurance, or isometric quadriceps endurance with incremental loads (bucket test), and HM180 were weaker (r < 0.60). HM180 may be a useful performance indicator for Laser racing. Since strength measures correlated well with HM180, greater emphasis should be placed on developing maximum strength in the quadriceps to improve maximal hiking performance.

Levels of Muscle Activation in Strength and Conditioning Exercises and Dynamometer Hiking in Junior Sailors

“…During the HM 180 test, a greater total hiking moment generated by the national class junior sailors was an expected finding as previous research has found that greater hiking moment has been related to superior race performance (36). These better test scores may be because of a combination of superior hiking technique and physical conditioning.…”

“…The sequencing of the exercises was randomized to prevent any ordering effects. After all exercises were completed, subjects then completed a single, HM 180 test (36).…”

“…A single HM 180 test was performed on a hiking bench (36) that was modified for the Byte Class. Two force plates (model OR6-6-2000; Advanced Medical Technology Inc., Watertown, MA, USA) were separately secured to metal plates (1 3 1 3 0.1 m) ( Figure 2).…”

“…This development has allowed researchers to replicate factors such as boat position (6,16) and orientation (30), and allowing better control over the measurement of kinetic variables such as torque generated while hiking and forces exerted on the sailor's foot strap (24). A recent study (36) found that maximal hiking performance measured on a hiking dynamometer over 3 minutes (the HM 180 test) was associated with better results in a race. Although this is a promising development, the discriminative validity of the HM 180 test between various subgroups of junior sailors has yet to be determined.…”

“…A maneuver called ''hiking'' is considered to be the most demanding aspect of Olympic class sailing (12). Sailors adopt both short and long hiking postures to keep the sailing dinghy upright by counterbalancing the forces of the wind on the sail through developing a ''righting moment,'' which is generated by the sailor's bodyweight and the length of their body extending off the boat (36). The short hiking posture is where the trunk is kept rigid with the knees and hips flexed ( Figure 1A), whereas the long hiking position is where the trunk, hips, and knees are relatively extended ( Figure 1B).…”