Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

America's Cup: Cyclor turns Grinder

by Suzanne McFadden, Newsroom.co.nz 4 Mar 2018 12:17 PST 5 March 2018
Simon van Velthooven - hoists the America's Cup high - an experience few sailors have in their life times © Richard Gladwell

Remarkable as it may seem America's Cup champion Simon van Velthooven is only now learning to sail. He's following in Olympic and world sculling champion Rob Waddell's big footprints. Waddell converted from holding a world record indoor rowing score (which still stands) to becoming a grinder and sailing in three America's Cup campaigns. Can van Velthooven do the same? - Newsroom's Suzanne McFadden reports.

He’s hailed as an America’s Cup champion. The man who led Team New Zealand’s cyclor pack to victory. But Simon “The Rhino” van Velthooven doesn’t really know how to sail.

“I’ll happily admit I still have no idea what’s going on,” he says. Nevertheless, he’s determined to learn the ropes, to get back on board Emirates Team New Zealand to defend the Auld Mug in three years’ time.

The Olympic cycling bronze medallist quietly slipped into the Team NZ fold back in 2016, given a clandestine mission to teach the sailing crew to become cyclors - those radical pedallers who powered up the AC50 foiling catamaran.

But now that pedal-power has been ruled out of the 2021 Cup, van Velthooven finds himself on the outside again - but desperate to fight his way back in. With the tables turned, the cyclist is now being taught to be a sailor.

“You get addicted to trying to defy the odds,” he says, after finishing another demanding session in the gym, and looking for breakfast. “It was an awesome experience in Bermuda, and it’s pretty cool to see how the team operates and what they achieved. It’s a cool opportunity to be able to train up to get on the next boat.”

Although the exact design of the new AC75 foiling monohull, drawn up by Team NZ and Italian challenger Luna Rossa, won’t be revealed until the end of this month, it’s almost guaranteed its power will come from conventional grinding pedestals.

So van Velthooven is building up to become a burly grinder. He’s taking every opportunity to catch a ride on a keelboat and get to grips with turning the handles.

Where the strength has always been in van Velthooven’s famously herculean legs - earning the nickname Rhino for his power and aggression on a sprint bike - he’s now having to pump up the muscles in his upper body. “Yeah, my body shape’s changing. I’m 15kg heavier than when I was a cyclist, but I’ll probably turn into a cube more than a pyramid,” he laughs.

Team NZ have not forgotten him. They’ve opened their doors to him – and other former cyclors – to use the grinding pedestal at their Beaumont St base. And he’s even got himself a job in the marine industry to discover more about the workings of a high-performance boat.

For the full story click here

Related Articles

America's Cup: Part 2 - No Excuse to Lose
The last race of the (63+254i) America's Cup has begun where tension deepens and strategy sharpens The last race of the (63+254i)th America's Cup has begun. Earth's syndicate, led by the New York Yacht Club, faces off against the Thalassocratic League of Deniau in a final match — winner takes all. Posted on 18 May
Dalton claims Alinghi are still recruiting
Emirates Team NZ CEO claims the Swiss America's Cup team Alinghi are still actively recruiting. In the course of a TV interview following the announcement of the venue for the 38th America's Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand CEO claimed that the Swiss America's Cup team Alinghi, were still actively recruiting, despite being in an "orderly wind-down". Posted on 17 May
Naples to host 2027 America's Cup
The fight for the Auld Mug will take place under the watchful shadow of Mt Vesuvius The Government of Italy, in conjunction with Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, are pleased to announce Italy as the Host Country and Naples as the Host City for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup to be held in 2027. Posted on 15 May
America's Cup: Brit in core ETNZ sailing team
Kiwis spring surprise with the inclusion of British sailor Chris Draper in their core sailing squad. Emirates Team New Zealand have announced their core sailing group, with the major surprise being the inclusion of British sailor Chris Draper. Nathan Outteridge is named as skipper to replace the departed Peter Burling. Posted on 14 May
America's Cup: Celebrating the 30th Anniversary
May 13, 2025 marks the 30th Anniversary of the winning of the America's Cup by Team New Zealand May 13, 2025 marks the 30th Anniversary of the winning of the America's Cup by Team New Zealand in San Diego, on May 13, 1995. Noted international journalist Barry Pickthall looks back on the Challenger series and the Match itself. Posted on 13 May
America's Cup: Part 1 - Big Bad Dennis returns
Set in the year 3156, this story on the 317th America's Cup takes us far into the future Set in the year 3156, no physical boats exist. Far too costly and disruptive to the delicate environments involved, the event is conducted entirely through simulation—broadcast from multiple orbital stations, home of all industrial and economic activities Posted on 8 May
America's Cup: Dalton pushes back on Swiss claims
More to Swiss withdrawal than disagreements over the draft Protocol says Dalton. Grant Dalton: "It has been somewhat obvious for some time that they have been struggling to recover from their lack lustre performance in Barcelona last October and give themselves an ‘on water' opportunity to win in AC38." Posted on 20 Apr
America's Cup: Alinghi confirm exit and wind-down
"We have not been able to find agreement with the Defender of the America's Cup" Twice America's Cup winner Alinghi has issued a statement saying they will not enter the 38th America's Cup, after taking issue with some measures in the draft Protocol. Team members were told last week. A media statement was issued Saturday afternoon. Posted on 19 Apr
Cup Spy: Kiwis make another tough call
The split between Peter Burling and Emirates Team NZ wasn't seen coming outside the team Todays's announcement of a split in the long relationship with Emirates Team NZ and its skipper, three times Cup winner Peter Burling wasn't seen coming outside the team, although rumours had been circulating on the Auckland waterfront for a month or two. Posted on 11 Apr
America's Cup: Burling leaves Team NZ
Emirates Team New Zealand and Peter Burling have today confirmed that they have agreed to part ways Emirates Team New Zealand and Peter Burling have today confirmed that they have agreed to part ways ahead of the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 11 Apr
Vaikobi 2024 DecemberPalm Beach Motor YachtsHyde Sails 2024 - One Design