The 49er is the fastest of the Olympic team boats. With a large sail, the 49er has an adjustable wing on each side allowing both crew to hike far out to keep the boat upright in a stronger wind. The crew have to work well together to maintain a delicate balance at high speeds, and these races are often very exciting and dramatic.
Specs
Length overall: 4.995 mBeam: 2.9 m (wing trapezes)
Displacement: 70 kg
Sail area: 16.1 sq m mainsail, 5.1 sq m headsail, 38 sq m spinnaker
Shown in photo: Americans Tim Wadlow and Chris Rast in the 2008 Olympics.
