Ayrton Oneill
Grinders are crew members on a yacht whose duties include operating manual winches that raise and trim the sails and move the boom. The AC50 class yachts used in the America's Cup competition have four positions for grinders on each side, which must be continuously operated to generate the hydraulic pressure needed by the yacht's controls. This is a physically demanding role with a significant impact on a racing yacht's overall performance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of grinders | Four |
| Grinder's role | Operating manual winches to raise and trim the sails and move the boom |
| Machinery type | Arm-operated winches until 2017, when Team New Zealand changed to pedal-operated positions |
| Grinder's impact | Significant impact on a racing yacht's overall performance |
| Grinder's duties | Generating hydraulic power needed by the yacht's controls |
| Grinder's coordination | Requires precise team coordination |
| Grinder's physical demands | Physically demanding |
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What You'll Learn
- Grinders are crew members who operate manual winches to raise and trim the sails and move the boom
- Grinders are responsible for generating the hydraulic power needed by the yacht's controls
- The role is physically demanding and requires world-class athleticism
- Grinders must coordinate with the rest of the team to corner the boat
- Grinders must choose the right function at the right time to maintain the boat's balance
Grinders are crew members who operate manual winches to raise and trim the sails and move the boom
Grinders are crew members who operate manual winches, or 'coffee grinders', to 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.
Grinders spend about half the time at the winches and the rest helping other crew members or doing other jobs around the boat. The time spent grinding is intense, particularly in a close race. Grinders are responsible for generating the hydraulic power used in turns, ready for the next adjustment. If they choose the wrong function at the wrong time and let oil pressure get too low, the boat will get unbalanced quite quickly, and the flight controller and the helmsman can’t do anything about it.
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.
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Grinders are responsible for generating the hydraulic power needed by the yacht's controls
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. The grinders are responsible for choosing the right function at the right time to maintain the correct oil pressure; if they get this wrong, the boat will quickly become unbalanced, and the flight controller and helmsman will be unable to correct it.
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. While sailing, grinders spend about half the time at the winches and the rest helping other crew members or doing other jobs around the boat.
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The role is physically demanding and requires world-class athleticism
The role of a grinder on America's Cup boat is physically demanding and requires world-class athleticism. Grinders are crew members on a yacht whose duties include operating manual winches (called "coffee grinders") that raise and trim the sails and move the boom. The role has 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. The grinders are responsible for the power needed to keep the boat in the air, which comes from the two sets of hydrofoils located further forward.
The role requires precise team coordination. For example, during a gybe, the grinder lifts the old board as the boat accelerates out of the turn and settles on the new angle. The grinders then work to restore the hydraulic power used in the turn, ready for the next adjustment.
The time spent grinding is intense, particularly in a close race. Grinders may spend about half their time at the winches and the rest helping other crew members or doing other jobs around the boat. This involves intense bursts of work, with short periods of rest in between.
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Grinders must coordinate with the rest of the team to corner the boat
Grinders are crew members on a yacht whose duties include operating manual winches that raise and trim the sails and move the boom. The AC50 class yachts used in the America's Cup competition have four positions for grinders on each side. These must be continuously operated to generate the hydraulic pressure needed by the yacht's controls.
The grinders are responsible for generating the hydraulic power needed to keep the boat in the air. This is done through the two sets of hydrofoils located further forward. By adjusting the rake, the grinders can change the angle of the foil as it goes through the water, altering the amount of lift and direction.
The role of a grinder is physically demanding and requires world-class athleticism. Grinders spend about half their time at the winches and the rest helping other crew members or doing other jobs around the boat. The time spent grinding is intense, particularly in a close race, with intense bursts of work.
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Grinders must choose the right function at the right time to maintain the boat's balance
Grinders on America's Cup boats have a crucial role in maintaining the boat's balance. They operate manual winches (called "coffee grinders") that raise and trim the sails and move the boom. This is a physically demanding role, requiring world-class athleticism, and has a significant impact on the yacht's overall performance.
The grinders must work in precise coordination with the rest of the team. For example, when cornering, the grinder lifts the old board as the boat accelerates out of the gybe and settles on a new angle. The grinder's role is to restore the hydraulic power used in the turn, ready for the next adjustment.
The AC50 class yachts used in the America's Cup competition have four grinder positions on each side, which must be continuously operated to generate the hydraulic pressure needed by the yacht's controls. If the grinders choose the wrong function at the wrong time and let the oil pressure get too low, the boat will quickly become unbalanced, and the flight controller and helmsman will be unable to correct it.
The role of the grinder is not limited to just operating the winches. They also spend around half of their time helping other crew members or doing other jobs around the boat. This can include tasks such as controlling the foils when straight-line sailing, which requires adjusting the rake to change the angle and direction of the foil as it goes through the water.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
Grinders are responsible for generating the hydraulic power needed by the yacht's controls. They must be continuously operated to maintain the boat's balance.
There are four grinder positions on each side of the AC50 class yachts used in the America's Cup competition.
Grinding is a physically demanding role, requiring world-class athleticism. The time spent grinding is intense, particularly in a close race, with intense bursts of work.
Grinders work closely with the wing trimmer and helmsman to coordinate the boat's movements and maintain stable flight through turns. They also help other crew members or do other jobs around the boat when not grinding.
