America’s Cup: Legs are back in fashion

When the Kiwi team showed up at the 2017 America’s Cup with their systems powered by leg cycling rather than arm grinding, it was the application of a known fact. That legs are stronger than arms is no surprise, but it was believed that crew mobility would be restricted.

Apparently not, but upon victory, Team New Zealand banned the practice for the 2021 America’s Cup. Bad optics to have bikers instead of sailors, but the AC75’s power needs missed the legs, so cyclers are back for 2024. It’s not like the crew is needed to manage a spinnaker…

However, critical to the power needs for the next America’s Cup is how the AC75 crew has been reduced from 11 to 8 people, and while the teams were initially quiet about their energy ideas, it has become clear that legs are back in fashion.

Among the ten people on the British challenger’s sailing team, four are listed as cyclors.

To watch a video, click here.

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