# Cyclists used to power boats in America Cup race

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclists-used-to-power-boats-in-america-cup-race/1006678>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** racing-auto-boat\
**Created:** [September 3, 2024, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclists-used-to-power-boats-in-america-cup-race/1006678 "2024-09-03T10:34:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2024, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclists-used-to-power-boats-in-america-cup-race/1006678/1 "2024-09-03T10:34:58Z")

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World-class bikers are recruited to provide power to these boats. I guess they used to have people use their arms and this is the next logical step. It’s both weird and ingenious. I couldn’t do it bc I’ve never really ridden a bike, get seasick and am not in excellent shape.

> **[America's Cup: Saddling up on the high seas - the life of a cyclor](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c4ngydm1x55o)**
>
> A world champion cyclist has swapped the velodrome for the cramped deck of the fastest yacht in the world. Why?

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**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2024, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclists-used-to-power-boats-in-america-cup-race/1006678/2 "2024-09-03T11:13:44Z")

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> Traditionally everything above the waterline on the 75ft-long boats - the sails, mast and winches - was powered by grinders, sailors who used their arms to turn cranks.

I can understand winches needing power, but how would the sails and mast need power?

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**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2024, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclists-used-to-power-boats-in-america-cup-race/1006678/3 "2024-09-03T11:46:54Z")

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Maybe to adjust and raise/lower them?

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**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2024, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclists-used-to-power-boats-in-america-cup-race/1006678/4 "2024-09-03T12:07:38Z")

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I found a page that describes (including a video) the class of boats that will be used in the upcoming Cup.

> **[THE TECHNOLOGY](https://www.americascup.com/the-technology)**
>
> THE TECHNOLOGY

The mainsail is not the traditional triangle of fabric. It’s more like an airplane wing, with two curved surfaces. Unlike a plane wing, though, sometimes you need the lift going one way, and sometimes the other; so there must be some means of adjusting the curvature. If I had to guess, that would be the part that needs power.

So it may be a bit of a misnomer to say that the mast needs power.

ETA: I also found this in the wikipedia entry for “wingsail”.

> [@](#):
>
> A wingsail becomes more efficient with greater curvature on the downwind side. Since the windward side changes with each tack, so must sail curvature change. This happens passively on a conventional sail, as it fills in with wind on each tack. On a wingsail, a change in camber requires a mechanism. Wingsails also change camber to adjust for windspeed.