‘Cycling’ the Americas Cup

I had no idea that this was a thing;  it sounds a bit ‘April Fools’. Apparently you can now be a professional cyclist & sailor at the same time. Fascinating!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c4ngydm1x55o

GCN did an interesting video on this.

Interesting stuff. Essentially they’re repeatedly pulling big intervals to pump oil into a hydraulic accumulator. Only big units who can do “1100 watts for 30 seconds, over 520 to 540 watts for four minutes, and over 440 watts for the 20-minute piece” (while getting tossed around on the waves) need apply!

I also see the rules allow electrical power for anything below the waterline, so they’ve got hefty batteries to power the steering gear and lift the arms. Industrial scale Di2.

Yep – and some are recumbent riders in American Magic!