Performance and Tactical Indicators in Elite Olympic RS:X Sailing Across Different Wind Conditions Using GPS Data

The variables determining performance under different wind conditions in Olympic RS:X class sailors have not yet been fully clarified. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between race performance (final ranking) and GPS-derived variables, including velocity made good (VMG), distance covered, and number of maneuvers, under different wind conditions in Olympic RS:X class sailors. Fifty-four Olympic RS:X class sailors (26 women and 28 men) who competed in a World Cup event were analyzed. Using GPS devices, the first-leg ranking, VMG, number of maneuvers, and distance covered in each segment (upwind, beam reach, and downwind) of every race were evaluated under three wind conditions (light wind: ≥8 to ≤12 knots; moderate wind: >12 to ≤15 knots; strong wind: >15 knots). A total of nine races were analyzed for both the men's and women's groups. For both groups and under all wind conditions, first-leg ranking was the variable most strongly associated with overall performance. VMG in upwind and downwind legs was among the most decisive variables in moderate wind conditions for both men and women. In strong wind conditions, VMG during the beam reach was a key variable influencing performance in both groups. In the women's group, regardless of wind speed, VMG during the first upwind leg was the determining factor for achieving a better first-leg position. In the men's group, particularly in medium wind conditions, a favorable first-leg position was mainly determined by VMG during the first upwind leg.