EXERCISE PERFORMANCE IN ELITE MALE AND FEMALE SAILORS

In order to evaluate the physiological profile of elite competitive sa ilors, and to determine if sailors revealed any seasonal variation in their exercise capacity over a 9 month period, results from female sai lors (n = 6), and male sailors (''hikers'' n = 8 and ''non-hikers'' n = 7) were compared with male physical education students (n = 8). Maxi mal oxygen uptake rate (VO(2)max) determined on treadmill did not diff er between male sailors and control subjects (61.4 +/- 2.0 vs 64.9 +/- 1.4 ml O-2/min . kg, mean +/- SE) and did not change with time in eli te sailors (p > 0.05). isometric endurance for abdominal and back musc les was similar for all groups. The isometric muscle endurance in a hi king bench was markedly greater in ''hikers'' [time: 218 sec (91-426) mean, range] compared to control subjects [time: 98 sec (48-188)], mal e ''non-hikers'', and female sailors (p < 0.05). Hiking endurance in ' 'hikers'' did not change over the 9 month observation period. Furtherm ore, dynamic arm performance (''all-out'' in 60 sec) was higher in ''h ikers'' compared to all other groups. In conclusion: Elite sailors who perform hiking activity (''hikers'') show an enhanced performance in a functional arm test and higher endurance in a hiking-bench compared to ''non-hiking'' elite sailors and a control group matched for age, w eight and fitness. Furthermore sailors did not show any seasonal varia tion in their VO,max or isometric endurance over a 9 month period.