A grinder is a crew member on a yacht whose duties include operating manual winches (called "coffee grinders") that raise and trim the sails and move the boom. It is a physically demanding role with a significant impact on a racing yacht's overall performance.
The AC50 class yachts used in the America's Cup competition have four positions (on each side) for grinders. These must be continuously operated to generate the hydraulic pressure needed by the yacht's controls. Until 2017, the machinery was arm operated winches. However, in 2017 Team New Zealand changed their grinding system to pedal operated positions (cyclors) similar to exercise bikes. This change reportedly gained a 40% increase in power delivered to the hydraulic system. In 2018, a decision was made to ban cyclors in the 36th America's Cup (2021) They were subsequently re-allowed for AC37 (2024).
References
- Fountain, Henry (13 February 2010). "Motors Have Muscled Out the Grinders". New York Times. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
- Pearson, SN; Hume, PA; Cronin, JB; Slyfield, D (September 2009). "Strength and power determinants of grinding performance in America's Cup sailors". Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 23 (6): 1883–9. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b2ba55. PMID 19675468. S2CID 24043124.
- Miles Dilworth, "Oracle Team USA: America’s Cup Defenders copy Kiwis in surprise move to pedal power", The Telegraph, 15 May 2017.
- Cheree Kinnear, "America's Cup: AC75 Class Rule explained", NZ Herald, 2 April 2018, retrieved and archived 20 August 2018.
- "America's Cup: Protocol released for 37th AC". Yachting World. 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2022-12-03.