Oracle copy cats testing bike grinding station
Oracle Team USA have reportedly fast-tracked a new cycle-grinding innovation, moving to replicate Team New Zealand’s radical set-up.
The defenders have installed a bike grinding station on their America’s Cup class catamaran, just weeks out from the start of the regatta. Specialist sailing website Sail World reported Oracle were trialing the new system on the dock yesterday, but are yet to test it on the water.
Emirates Team New Zealand, who are located opposite the Oracle Team USA base at the Royal Dockyard in Bermuda, appeared to make reference to the development in their latest post on their Facebook page — “Looks like we aren't the only ones cycling anymore”.
Until now Team New Zealand were the only team using a pedal- power on their boat. The Kiwi syndicate kept the innovation secret until the launch of their 50ft race boat in February, when they sent the America’s Cup world into a flap after it was revealed they had replaced the traditional grinding pedestals in the boat with cycles, allowing the crew to use their more powerful leg muscles to power the sophisticated control systems in their wing-sail catamaran. determine
The radical move was largely dismissed by Team NZ’s rivals, including Oracle, who were believed to have considered cycle-power themselves, but scrapped the idea as it had too many trade-offs.
“We looked at it hard, as I know all the teams did, and it's a compromise,” Oracle skipper Jimmy Spithill said at the time.
“Nothing is straightforward. You can get more power on the pedal, but there's other compromises. You take windage, and it's a little harder getting on and off the pedals, so I don't think that decision will be the deciding factor.”
Oracle appear to have made a u-turn in their thinking after seeing Team NZ’s pedal system in action.
Sail World reported the new grinding pedestal is in the same cockpit as helmsman Spithill, directly behind the two-time America’s Cup-winning skipper. Tactician Tom Slingsby is expected to provide the pedal power, with the other two handle-grinding pedestals remaining in place.
The latest development appears to confirm rumours that were circulating last month that Oracle had been trialing a cycle-grinder system behind closed doors at the team base.
If they stay with the concept, the move is expected to have a few advantages for the team.
Not only will it increase the power output used to generate hydraulic fluid pressure — energy which drives many of the control systems on board, it means Slingsby will be in a better position to offer tactical advice to his skipper as he will have his head up and facing forward, while he grinds with his legs.
The opening race of the America’s Cup qualifiers is on May 27 off Bermuda.