Actually when I am skin and bones I am 225-230. I am 6'2" with a large frame and frankly, it is none of your business what I weigh. There aerr lots of other things we could do to lead a healthier life too. How about no beer? I hope I make my point.

I found it impossible to race this year as we could not possibly make weight. One of my crew went to another boat and she was kicked off to get the boat to weight.

I understand the issue of competitive advantage due to more ballast. We also give up a lot by putting lightweights on the rail when the skipper is large. He cannot sit outboard pushing on the lifelines with legs over the side like the rest of the crew so one can argue that at 880 pounds with a heavy skipper a heavy skipper boat gives away a lot. That argues for something like Paul's formula or simply a crew weight of 176*4=704. exclusine of the helmsman.

Lots of things we can do.

:: I am all for leaving things where they are. I think most
:: of the fleet agrees as well. I weighed 223 about two
:: months before the nationals, went on a healthy diet and
:: weiged in at 206 for nationals. I certainly am not
:: "vertically challenged" as Larry puts it, since I am 6'
:: tall. I have several friends that are even taller than I
:: am and who actually weigh less than I do.
::
:: I just think the 880 limit has worked very well for many
:: years and it is only a small few people who are
:: complaining about it. I feel it is really in those
:: people's best interest to lead a healthier life and shed
:: 20-30 lbs.
::
:: This, of course, is just my opinion. If you want to
:: change the rules we have a process in place to do just
:: that. Go for it!
::

:: -Jason

::
:: :: I'm not necessarily advocating it, but you could imagine
:: :: a weight limit system where the weight of driver was
:: :: taken into account. Something like:
:: ::
:: :: total weight limit = 880 + 0.4 * ( driver_weight - 160 )
:: ::

:: :: - 120 lb driver - weight limit: 866lbs (746 for crew)
:: :: - 160 lb driver - weight limit: 880lbs (720 for crew)
:: :: - 220 lb driver - weight limit: 904lbs (685 for vrew)
:: :: - 260 lb driver - weight limit: 920lbs (660 for crew) 

:: ::
:: ::
:: :: I don't know what the right values in the forumula would
:: :: be be to make things even ...