title: Development of an upwind sailing ergometer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a sailing ergometer that accurately simulates upwind sailing exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sailing ergometer that measures roll moment accompanied by a biofeedback system that allows imposing a certain quasi-isometric upwind sailing protocol (ie, 18 bouts of 90-s hiking at constantly varying hiking intensity interspersed with 10 s to tack) was developed. Ten male high-level Laser sailors performed an incremental cycling test (ICT; ie, step protocol at 80 W + 40 W/3 min) and an upwind sailing test (UST). During both, heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (VO(2)), ventilation (V(E)), respiratory-exchange ratio, and rating of perceived exertion were measured. During UST, also the difference between the required and produced hiking moment (HM) was calculated as error score (ES). HR, VO(2), and V(E) were calculated relative to their peak values determined during ICT. After UST, the subjects were questioned about their opinion on the resemblance between this UST and real-time upwind sailing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An average HM of 89.0% ± 2.2% HM(max) and an average ES of 4.1% ± 1.8% HM(max) were found. Mean HR, VO(2), and V(E) were, respectively, 80% ± 4% HR(peak), 39.5% ± 4.5% VO(2peak), and 30.3% ± 3.7% VE(peak). Both HM and cardiorespiratory values appear to be largely comparable to literature reports during on-water upwind sailing. Moreover, the subjects gave the upwind sailing ergometer a positive resemblance score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that this ergometer accurately simulates on-water upwind sailing exercise. As such, this ergometer could be a great help in performance diagnostics and training follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Callewaert
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geerts
authors.forename: Evert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lataire
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boone
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vantorre
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bourgois
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004867:Equipment Design; D016552:Ergometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005246:Feedback; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports; D014919:Wind