There is no doubt that hours on the water is the best way for me to achieve better performance. Compared with weight then there is no doubt that if I throw 5 kg of my excess weight, it will be the good way to improve my performance.
I looked at the weight of the equipment which has won the World Championship the last few years. The estimated weight of it is around 30.5 kg. +/- 0.5 kg. This was done by collecting information from the Internet, combined with the weight of my own gear because it is very similar to that used by the top three at the World Championships in 2009.
Then I tried to see how low the total weight could come down if you took various part components. The figure I came up with was that you could probably get the equipment weight down to around 26 kg if you went the whole way. By this I mean custom made centerboard and insets, etc. You can see the table below, however it is important to remember that there are approx. numbers and weight do not do it alone.
As I read the numbers it is the rig (sail, extension, mast and boom) I could pick the biggest weight savings. This little exercise has given me a list of things I should be aware of when equipment must be replaced.
Gear | Brand | Model | Dry weight (kg.) | WC version | Light version |
Board | Starboard(straps on) | Phantom Race 380 2009 | 14,10 | 14,10 | 14,10 |
Centerboard | Starboard | Race 78 cm 2009 | 1,37 | 1,37 | 0,70 |
Insets | Starboard | 0,35 | 0,35 | 0,15 | |
Fin (allround) | Select | S10 Elite 51 cm 2010 | 0,68 | 0,68 | 0,40 |
Bom | Neil Pryde | RS:X 220-260 2007 | 3,05 | 3,05 | 2,40 |
Mast | Neil Pryde | RS:X 520 2007 | 2,40 | 2,40 | 2,10 |
Sail | Neil Pryde | RS:X 9.5 m2 | 6,10 | 6,10 | 4,50 |
Ekstension | Neil Pryde | RS:X 45 cm | 0,80 | 0,80 | 0,35 |
Power joint | Neil Pryde | RS:X Euro pin | 0,25 | 0,25 | 0,20 |
Downhaul | Home made | 0,20 | 0,20 | 0,15 | |
Outhaul | Harken/ outhaul kit | 0,30 | 0,30 | 0,30 | |
Up haul | Simmer sails | 0,15 | 0,15 | 0,10 | |
Harness lines | Home made | 0,70 | 0,70 | 0,70 | |
Weigth (kg.) | 30,45 | 30,45 | 26,15 | ||
Difference in kg. | 4,30 | ||||
% difference | 14,1 |