History may be repeating in Bermuda with reports America's Cup defender Oracle Team USA have installed a cycle grinding position on their race boat, following in the tracks of Emirates Team New Zealand.
Oracle tactician Tom Slingsby was spotted in a cycle position behind helmsman and skipper Jimmy Spithill this morning before the American syndicate took to the water for training.
A comment on sailing website sailinganarchy.com said "They were testing at the dock but it all appeared too difficult and went out sailing in a normal setup."
Team New Zealand acknowledged the change on the Oracle boat on a Facebook post, saying "Looks like we aren't the only ones cycling anymore...?"
If correct, Oracle would only have the single cycle grinder, as opposed to Team New Zealand's four.
It's thought the leg-powered grinders have a much larger output than the conventional setup, producing more hydraulic pressure to control the boat.
When the Kiwis setup was unveiled, it was written off by their rivals as something they had looked into but dismissed.
Team New Zealand set the pace for the last Cup cycle when they successfully foiled their AC72, only for the Americans to copy their setup, leading to the successful defence in San Francisco.
The Kiwis managed to keep the cycle-grinding secret, developing it in secret before their ACC catamaran was launched earlier this year.
Rumours have been circulating around the docks that Oracle had been developing their own system in secret once Team New Zealand let their cat out of the bag.
Newshub.
