Dalton confirms no cyclors in next Cup

Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton has confirmed cyclors will play no part in the next America’s Cup.

The Kiwi team’s radical pedalpowered innovation was one of the key factors in Team NZ’s stunning win in Bermuda this year, but it appears bikes on boats are set to be consigned to a quirky footnote in the annals of America’s Cup sailing history.

Team NZ will announce their plans for the 36th America’s Cup next week, but the full design rules will not be released until November 30. However, in an interview with Italian publication La Stampa, Dalton indicated the rules wouldn’t allow for cyclors.

When asked if it would be “goodbye to the sailing cyclists”, Dalton told La Stampa “grinders are coming back”.

The Team NZ cyclors were one of a handful of factors that gave the team a healthy speed advantage over their rivals in Bermuda, where they went on to demolish Oracle 7-1 in the Cup match. The cycling innovation was a response to a unique set of challenges posed by the design rules for the power-thirsty and undermanned America’s Cup Class catamarans sailed in Bermuda.

But one of the criticisms of the spectacular high-tech catamarans was that of the six crew on board, three were there to provide the grunt alone, leaving no room for the traditional sailing roles such as bowmen and trimmers.

Since getting their hands on the Auld Mug in June, Team NZ, together with challenger of record Luna Rossa, have made no secret of their intention to return to some of the more traditional elements of the Cup.