ballast

That flexibility has provided a “ballast” to the university as it “faced operating stressors this year,” he said.

If the driver chooses not to wear the vest, his car must carry 500 grams of ballast to compensate for the weight of the system so he does not gain a competitive advantage.

"It was the starting point, I think it gives the film some ballast," adds Sir Ben.

Does Farrell add ballast to his back row by including Ollie Chessum, more usually a second row, to counter their direct threat?

Yet incredibly, sealing the ends watertight and fitting them with ballast tanks, gives enough buoyancy to tow them behind tugboats.