America's Cup yacht racing: Race analysis and physical characteristics of the athletes |
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| Authors: | Vernon Neville Julian Calefato Cristina Pérez-Encinas Enrique Rodilla-Sala Sergio Rada-Ruiz Paul Dorochenko |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University , Loughborough, UK vernon.neville@hotmail.com;3. Discovery High Performance Centre, Sports Science Institute of South Africa , Cape Town, South Africa;4. Sport and Exercise Medicine, Clínica TECMA , Alzira;5. Medicina Interna, Hospital de Sagunto , Valencia, Spain;6. Clinic Balance , Valencia, Spain;7. La Calderona International Sports Rehabilitation Centre , Valencia, Spain |
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| Abstract: | Abstract The America's Cup is the oldest competing trophy in sport, yet little is known of the nature and intensity of racing or the physical characteristics of the athletes. In this study, aspects of the physical demands of America's Cup yacht racing were analysed, including the intensity of exercise and activity pattern of “grinding”. Anthropometric data were collected from 92 professional male America's Cup sailors, and fitness data from a top-4 and a lower-7 ranking team during the 32nd America's Cup. Over the 135 races, mean race duration was 82 min (s = 9), with 20 tacks (s = 10) and 8 gybes (s = 3) per race. Grinding bouts were 5.5 s (s = 5.4; range: 2.2–66.3) long, with 143 exercise bouts per race and an exercise-to-rest ratio of 1:6. Mean and peak heart rate was 64% and 92% of maximum for all positions, with bowmen highest (71% and 96%). Grinders were taller, heavier, and stronger than all other positions. Body fat was similar between positions (13%, s = 4). The higher-standard team was stronger and had greater strength endurance, which probably contributed to their quicker manoeuvres. Intensity of exercise was dependent on the similarity of competing boats and the role of the athlete. The short duration and intermittent nature of grinding is indicative of predominantly anaerobic energy provision. |
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| Keywords: | Sailing anthropometry fitness testing grinding intermittent exercise |
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