That would make sense.

I think they need some bicycle mounted pumps!

Here's a statement from the man in charge - The CEO of the event Stephen Barclay.

http://www.businessweek.com/article...clay-on-sailboat-design-and-death-at-sea

yes, especially if those grinding stations don't have to reverse the direction of rotation to switch gears (I think the first few generations did switch direction to change gears like a standard winch) - which would make the bicycle style inefficient (I don't think I can pedal backwards nearly as effectively)

But if they're just using them to drive a hydraulic pump, use the legs man!

Of course, the drawback is that they might not have the strength to jump up and run across the trampoline quite as quickly as they do with the standing grinder stations...

I'm thinking the cycles need to be mounted on rails, just before each tack the grinders are released to slide down to the low side, pedaling all the way!

Pedal powered sailing tools are nothing new. Here's a photo of an on-deck blender.



The latest human powered airplanes (and blenders) are using a rowing machine style of human power, giving up on the bicycle style. Something about using only the big muscle groups.

If they got really strong at that technique a grinder/rower wouldn't ever run across the tramp, they'd simply take the whole width in single power jump, like a frog. Just don't overshoot.

I'll get my coat.

http://www.americascup.com/en/news/...mends-teams-suspend-ac-catamaran-sailing

“Luna Rossa will not participate in the slaughtering game”

It sounds like a reasonable argument to me.

One accident due to a boat insufficiently built makes it a slaughter?

I'm guessing that's a translation problem. At any rate I got the impression he was referring to possible damage during qualifying, that wind on the bay would be quite high at that time and much reduced later in the year when the Cup is actually run. I was glad to read he was calling for divers, air bags and the like.

Recommends suspending sailing until the middle of the week! Ouch...that's not good for the event.

I think the AC 45 was some of the best racing we will see. They could have just as easily used those boats for the Cup races and had a lot more teams participate.

It would be hard for any of them to admit that now, but I'm with you. Open up the AC45 rule to allow some development in foils, etc and have a huge event.

I'll believe that when I see it. AC is all about elitism, imo.

Good riddance.

Give me the keys to the boat on the way out, I'll take good care of her.

Russell Coutts tried - and he was told to get stuffed.

Is it me, or has the AC always been a boat race between uber-wealthy narcissists? That's what makes it so entertaining

Would you rather watch "Lifestyles of the lower middle class & nominally known" on television? I think not.

Having Robin Leech ride in my half-destroyed car with his camera crew would be a little un-nerving, but he could help keep that window from leaking while he's there...

Suspending racing for a short while until people can determine if there is something inherently wrong with ALL the boats sounds reasonable. But if it turns out one team or boat was cutting the margin too thin, then the rest of the teams shouldn't be penalized

I've recovered a few bodies of offshore power boat racers in my earlier days (dive rescue), but I don't recall the industry cancelling the entire fleet/division/calendar because of one (or a few) accidents.

I'm sure that some of the accidents may have actually been the result of design deficiencies, too...

I recall diving on one boat (maybe a 60 foot tri) that stuffed hard in a wave while rounding a mark and killed the throttle hand (traumatic asphyxia from what we figured - our response was literally 30 seconds from when the boat crashed to our getting hands on him, but CPR attempts were unsuccessful). The boat literally disintegrated below us (our safety team was following in a small helicopter at about 100' asl). The driver denied being hurt, but we got him packaged (backboard/CS collar) on the rescue boat and later found out he had a C-6 fracture.

While tragic for all involved, the general racing community believed it was one of the inherent perils of the "game" and soldiered on. I would hope to see the same out of the AC

Even back in the early AC events, the danger of injury or worse was always present. A parted sheet or blown block could easily maime or kill a sailor. Collisions between boats have and will break bones or worse.

Booms swinging can knock sailors overboard unconscious, and until recently I don't recall any of them wearing PFDs while training or competing.

Learn all we can from this incident, apply those lessons to protect life and property, and let's develop the sport and its associated technologies in a safe and effective manner.

I think that was tried but NZ killed the idea, I think it was proposed after the OR crash.

It might have made a much better event, I imagine it would have been much more affordable with more teams jumping in. Probably more teams doing the series as well.

On the other hand it would have have been quite the same as the big badass 72s either. It's not the AC without the wealthiest teams competing with the biggest and baddest boats.

Then they can readily afford safety crews and equipment to safeguard the lives of the sailors. In hindsight I'd say safety standards were amateurish.