Emirates Team New Zealand will officially launch their new America’s Cup boat on Thursday but its first appearance on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour has already raised eyebrows.
The 50 foot America's Cup Class catamaran was spotted by sail-world.com with photos revealing the traditional arm-powered grinding pedestals replaced with cycle pedestals.
It’s a major shift in thinking to provide the hydraulic power to the boat.
Leg power could be more efficient than the traditional approach, and with teams stating the secret to success in Bermuda could be foiling around the entire race course, that makes delivering the required power to control the foils and wing even more crucial.
It’s not the first time cycle grinders have been used in the America’s Cup - they were used on the 12 Metre boats in the 1960’s before being outlawed.
