ABSTRACT
The UK governing body (Royal Yachting Association, RYA) has established a compromise group of simple fitness tests, which are applied in common to all these categories of sailor. Only the norms for performance, on the various tests within the group, reflect the contrasting requirements of the different specialists. Whatever one’s judgement of this policy from the GB’s standpoint,
Cycling and rowing are more specific than running, since both hiking and boardsailing place more demands on quads than ankle extensors. It is also safer, as people with foot or knee problems, for whom running impacts are inappropriate, can be successful sailors; more severe knee injury, however, of course contraindicates even cycling or rowing.
