| A swimming unit used for sport, touristic or representative sailing; according to drive types, we distinguish sail yachts (with a supporting engine or without it), motor yachts and motor-sail yachts; according to the hull's construction, we distinguish monohull yachts, typically fitted with a fixed or adjustable keel below the waterline to counterbalance the overturning force of wind on the vessel's sails; two-hull yachts (catamarans); three-hull yachts (trimarans). Among sail yachts, we distinguish various types and classes, according to their sizes and constructions. The base for distinguishing classes is the need to group the yacht types, so that their race winning chances would be similar; only few parametres are common (mainly type and the sail's surface); in limited classes the yachts have to have more than ten common parametres; monotype classes include yachts with identical parametres and usually also with the requirement of similar building materials. Competition yachts, starting in the races are usually monotypes; in non-monotype class races there are special equalling formullas used, which enable reaching comparable results. The most popular are the yachts united in international classes, accepted by IYRU (International Yachting Racing Union), among which the International Olimpic Comitee chooses olimpic classes of the yachts permitted to start in the olimpic races. |
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