Sleep restriction and degraded reaction-time performance in Figaro solo sailing races |
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| Authors: | RÉmy Hurdiel HANS PA Van Dongen Christophe Aron Peter McCauley Laure Jacolot Denis Theunynck |
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| Institution: | 1. Laboratoire ReLACS/ER3S, Université du Littoral C?te d’Opale, Dunkerque, Franceremy.hurdiel@orange.fr;3. Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA;4. Service de Pneumologie, Centre Hospitalier de Dunkerque, Unité Sommeil, Dunkerque, France;5. P?le France Finistère Course au Large, Port la Forêt, France;6. Laboratoire ReLACS/ER3S, Université du Littoral C?te d’Opale, Dunkerque, France |
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| Abstract: | AbstractIn solo offshore sailing races like those of the Solitaire du Figaro, sleep must be obtained in multiple short bouts to maintain competitive performance and safety. Little is known about the amount of sleep restriction experienced at sea and the effects that fatigue from sleep loss have on sailors’ performance. Therefore, we assessed sleep in sailors of yachts in the Figaro 2 Beneteau class during races and compared response times on a serial simple reaction-time test before and after races. Twelve men (professional sailors) recorded their sleep and measured their response times during one of the three single-handed races of 150, 300 and 350 nautical miles (nominally 24–50 h in duration). Total estimated sleep duration at sea indicated considerable sleep insufficiency. Response times were slower after races than before. The results suggest that professional sailors incur severe sleep loss and demonstrate marked performance impairment when competing in one- to two-day solo sailing races. Competitive performance could be improved by actively managing sleep during solo offshore sailing races. |
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| Keywords: | sleep restriction reaction-time performance solo sailing |
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