Investigation of physical, physiological and neuromuscular performance parameters of elite sailing athletes.

BACKGROUND

Elite sailing performance depends on the interaction of anthropometric features, strength–power capacities, postural control, and physiological fitness. However, sex-specific neuromuscular and physiological profiles in competitive sailing remain insufficiently characterized. Therefore, this study aimed to examine sex-related differences in the physical, physiological, and neuromuscular attributes of elite sailors using an integrated laboratory-based test battery.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 26 national- and international-level sailing athletes (14 men, 12 women). Participants completed standardized assessments of anthropometry and body composition, isometric strength, static and dynamic balance, bimanual visual reaction time, anaerobic power (30-s upper- and lower-limb Wingate tests), and maximal aerobic capacity (treadmill VO₂max, Bruce protocol). Sex differences were analyzed using multivariate general linear models (MANOVA/MANCOVA), with fat-free mass (FFM) included as a covariate. Pearson correlations were calculated separately for men and women.

RESULTS

A significant multivariate effect of sex was observed. Male athletes demonstrated higher VO₂max, greater lower-limb peak power, stronger handgrip and trunk extension strength, and greater sitting height and arm length (p < 0.05, partial η² = 0.18–0.81). No significant sex differences were found for Wingate fatigue indices, upper-limb peak power, reaction time, or static/dynamic balance measures. After adjustment for FFM, sex differences in handgrip and trunk strength remained significant, whereas the difference in lower-limb peak power became borderline, indicating that muscle mass partly, but not fully, explained the performance gap. Correlation analyses further suggested sex-specific relationships between body composition and performance variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Elite sailing performance appears to reflect the combined contribution of anthropometric characteristics, body composition, strength–power output, and postural control rather than a single dominant factor. These findings support the importance of sex-specific profiling and may help inform individualized, role- and class-specific training strategies in competitive sailing.