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International 49er
This Australian designed 16-foot double-trapeze skiff is high-tech and ultra-fast. Retractable wings in slider tracks allow different wing extension lengths to suit varied crew weights; the wings spread to nine feet and allow the crew to leverage their weight in order to keep the dinghy from heeling over too far. The adjustment of the wing is fixed by crew weight to a formula which ensures that heavier crews do not have a greater advantage in heavy winds, or conversely, lighter crews do not have an advantage in lighter winds. With a huge sail area for such a small boat -- 639 sq. feet -- the 49er can sail faster than the speed of wind.
The relationship between skipper and crew is critical on the 49er, perhaps more so than on any other Olympic boat. Going so fast on the edge of control means that one slip can mean a flip. The boat attracts competitors looking for speed and excitement. Made of fiberglass and carbon fiber to be strong and light, the 49er weighs 275 pounds when fully rigged.
Text courtesy US SAILING
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