What does 49er mean in sailing?
49er. The 49er is a two-handed skiff-type high-performance sailing dinghy. The two crew work on different roles with the helm making many tactical decisions, as well as steering, and the crew doing most of the sail control. Both of the crew are equipped with their own trapeze and sailing is handled while “flying”.
What is the difference between 49er and 49erFX?
The 49er FX is the new Olympic skiff for women which made its debut at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. It shares the same platform as the 49er but with different mast and sails. These efficient upwind sails and new spinnaker design allow the FX to compete with the larger 49er in most conditions.
How fast is a 49er sailboat?
The 49er, designed by Julian Bethwaite of Australia, can sail faster than the speed of wind; for instance, if the wind is 8 knots, the boat speed might get up to 10 knots or more. At top speeds off the wind, the 49er has been clocked at 25 knots.
Are 49ers hard to sail?
Having raced both I can tell you the 49er is harder to sail. The reason has to do with power to weight ratios. The 49er essentially requires you to anticipate what the boat is going to do about 70% of the time and if you don’t its very hard to recover. The Musto is down to only about 50%-60%.
What does FX mean in sailing?
The FX is a true high performance skiff. It demands athleticism, balance, skill and daring. The FX is a skiff that will show to the world how spectacular our sport is and what amazing athletes our women sailors are.
How heavy do you have to be to sail a 29er?
Although the design was originally targeted to youth sailors as a feeder class to the Olympic 49er, the 29er is a super class on its own merits. The optimal combined crew weight is considered to be 270 lbs to 320 lbs, but is by no means limited to that span. Being a gorilla does not help you win races.
What is the 49er race?
The 49er FX was developed by Mackay Boats to be a women’s Olympic class. It consists of a 49er hull, wings, and foils, with a scaled down rig designed to suit the weight of an elite female crew.
What is a dory boat?
dory, small boat with pointed ends and high, flaring sides. A dory may be up to 22 feet (7 m) long and commonly has a narrow, V-shaped stern and a narrow, flat bottom. It is a seaworthy boat that can be rowed, engine-driven, or sailed; it is used extensively by New England fishermen.
Do skiffs have sails?
The skiff could be powered by sails as well as oars. One usage of skiff is to refer to a typically small flat-bottomed open boat with a pointed bow and a flat stern originally developed as an inexpensive and easy to build boat for use by inshore fishermen.
Why are 29ers called 29ers?
The name “29er” comes from a bicycle called the Two Niner, which was offered by the Fisher bike company in 2001, according to 1998 Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee Don Cook. The US division of Bianchi Bicycles offered a line of 29″ wheeled off-road bikes beginning in 1991 called the Project bikes.
Can a 29er single handed sail?
You have a perfectly reasonable set of reasons to (occasionally) sail your 29er singlehanded. But if you couldn’t get a crew whenever you want to ‘sail seriously’ you’d still learn more in a proper singlehander.
Is the 49er a high performance sailing boat?
The 49er was a quantum leap in terms of high performance Olympic sailing. It still leads the field. It’s a boat that captures the essence of true Olympic athleticism, based on a strict and well proven one design concept.
What is the definition of a 49er dinghy?
2. : 49era type of dinghy, designed to be crewed by two people Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014 for•ty-nin•er
What is the dictionary definition of the word 49er?
Define 49er. 49er synonyms, 49er pronunciation, 49er translation, English dictionary definition of 49er. n. One who took part in the 1849 California gold rush. American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
Who was the Forty Niner in the Gold Rush?
forty-niner – a miner who took part in the California gold rush in 1849. gold digger, gold miner, gold panner – a miner who digs or pans for gold in a gold field.