Weight Equalisation Explained

Equalisation Explained

All Laser5000 crews sail at the same weight

All Laser5000 crews have the same righting power

The only difference between winner and loser in laser5000 racing is the ability and the will to win

The laser5000 is unique. Most two person racing classes have polarised around an established crew height / weight combination. The Laser5000 is different. Unlike any other performance sailing boat, Laser5000 dinghy racing offers genuinely equal competition in all wind conditions.

The significance of Crew Power Equalisation has been acknowledged by the IYRU and national sailing federations around the world as a real breakthrough for the sport of sailing. For the first time height and weight are not a factor in racing success. There is no optimum crew weight or combination of helm and crew. Whatever the weather, crew size will not affect boat speed.

The system works as follows. The combined crew weight is always adjusted to 170 kg by adding supplied weight correctors to the weight tray in the centre of the boat, so that the displaced weight whilst sailing is the same for every boat.

The combined height and weight, or righting moment of the crew and helm is then measured. This is done by each person lying on a 2 metre long plank which is supported at one end by a set of scales. The value given is then used with a table of figures to give the correct rack position. The racks on each side of the boat are then adjusted to alter the beam of the boat, so that each combination of helm and crew have the same righting moment when twin trapezing flat out.

The weight is the combined weight of the helm and crew, in sailing gear, in Kg. The righting moment is twice the combined weight registered upon the weighting scales when the helm and crew lie on a 2m plank, as described above. The chart gives you the correct rack setting, with 1 being the hole closest to the centreline of the boat. The combined weight of the crew, baby bars (3kg each) and lead should be at least 170 kg. Please note that it is the personal responsibility of each crew of a boat to ensure they have the correct weight and rack settings. The decision of the official measurer at each event is final, and no responsibility can be attributed to data found here