Analysis of sailing variables and performance of laser sailors with different rankings under the condition of certain wind speed
Dandan Pan, Kaiyang Sun
Abstract
Objective: The aims of this study were to describe the characteristics of sailing variables and differences between different ranking sailors under the condition of certain wind speed, and predict the variables that affect performance. Methods: Five regatta's data of the 2019-2020 Hempel World Cup Series and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games for a total of 63 races were analyzed in this study. The wind speed was defined as light wind below 8 knots, medium wind at 8-12 knots and strong wind above 12 knots. Sailors were divided into top 10 and other ranked groups based on their performance for each race. Results: < 0.01), and the top 10 sailors' first upwind ranking was close to the race performance. Conclusions: Wind speeds affect sailing variables and race characteristics. VMG and time and distance in upwind and reaching legs are important variables for differentiating sailors' level. Regardless of the wind speed, the first upwind mark position of sailors can be used as an effective factor in predicting the performance of the race.