Do landbased tests distinguish ‘the best from the rest’ in on-water hiking performance in elite British laser sailors?

Lancaster, Alice (2018). Do landbased tests distinguish ‘the best from the rest’ in on-water hiking performance in elite British laser sailors? University of Birmingham. M.Sc.

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Abstract

Hiking is where sailors are required to lean out of the boat when sailing upwind to counter the force of the wind in the sails. This study examined possible relationships between land-based parameters and the ability to hike on-water in seven Laser sailors in the British Sailing team (2 females, 5 males: age = 20 ± .64 years). Two hiking bench protocols were used: a three-minute test, and a ten-minute test to measure the righting moment generated by the participants. Parameters collected in these trials and in endurance and strength tests were analysed alongside coaches’ on-water rankings to determine whether the hiking bench protocols determined ‘the best from the rest’. No significant correlations were seen between on-water scores and land-based testing (p>.05); however, average righting moment on the hiking bench in both tests significantly correlated with VO2peak (r=.942), maximum minute power (r=.906) and 1RM (r=.795).
Although there were no significant correlations with on-water scores, the testing gave a valuable insight into the participants’ ability to use their physical attributes when hiking, even in a controlled setting, indicating that mental attributes may perhaps be responsible for differences in hiking performance between sailors.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Sc.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.Sc.

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