You will look in vain for the 130 kilo fore boats of earlier times that made star boats fast and brought sailing into disrepute. For a long time, the formula for success in the Starboot was called fat is fast. Which led to the fact that helmsmen were looking for a weighty, sporty man by advertisement. Sailing experience is not necessary.
The foredeck position degenerated into a role as movable ballast. DAthletics didn’t do any harm but wasn’t absolutely necessary either, the photogenicity of the class worsened significantly. Until Alexander Hagen prescribed a diet for the class. The so-called Hagen formula is used for the first time at these Olympic Games (100 minus the helmsman weight, divided by two equal to the weight of the crew member).
The formula is based on the fact that with the previous riding technique in the class, the lower bow position was more effective than the seated position of the helmsman. But those days are over since the former Finn dinghy sailors discovered the star as a career springboard.
Because they also ride out to the maximum as helmsmen, as they were used to in the Finn. And since they all weigh around 100 kilograms, this ride is also very effective. The Finn gold medalist Ian Percy (GBR) perfected this new technique and immediately became world and European champion after switching and won two more bronze medals.
Then the Finn third from Sydney Fredy Loof (SWE) took the lead with silver and gold at the last world championships. And Finn-Recke Xavier Rohart (FRA) also became Star World Champion in 2003. Since then, the others have also been practicing hanging.
So Alex Hagen's initiative comes back to the German like a boomerang. Actually, a not undesirable side effect of the rule would have been that, as a rather lighter helmsman with 82 kilos, he would have had better chances. But now she prefers the heavy helmsmen.
If he weighs only 82 kilograms, his bow according to the formula may weigh a maximum of 109 kilograms. The total crew weight is 15 kilos less than the heaviest crew, the fellow favorites Bromby / White from Bermuda, and about ten kilos less than the highest bet Swedes Loof / Ekstroem or Percy / Mitchell (GBR). * Therefore, Meltemi would not necessarily be good for us. * Says Hagen. The formula should be adjusted after the games.
The star boat is the only class in which the crew is weighed every morning. Mostly before breakfast the sailors stand on the official scales. If you are over your weight, you have to sweat off until eleven o'clock, otherwise you are not allowed to start. All crews are only a few grams below the maximum. * That is part of the professional preparation, * says Hagen.
These exact limits do not exist in the other classes. But still these sailors live their lives with the scales. Because there is an optimal weight. A Finn sailor must weigh between 95 and 100 kilos, a 470 crew about 135 kilos. The data are confirmed by empirical values. Those who are too heavy have advantages in strong winds, but not in calm. So it's no secret that Amelie Lux is too light and has to hope for light winds. So the entire class settles down to an average value that shifts by a few kilos depending on the area.
All-round characteristics are in demand in Athens. That is why you will not get very far with extreme underweight or overweight. However, anyone who has last seen tornado sailor Roland Gaebler must assume that he is guessing that there is slack. He is enormously emaciated. In
Sydney
gave him the Di