Sailing: Cyclor in bid to be a Cup cog

Simon van Velthooven. Photo / Photosport

Simon van Velthooven is determined to be a part of Team New Zealand's America's Cup defence in 2021 - whether it's in the hybrid role of a cyclor or purely as a grinder.

The former Olympic cyclist confirmed yesterday fans have seen the last of him on the track after being one of the secret weapons of New Zealand's Cup success aboard Aotearoa in Bermuda in June.

While rivals - including Jimmy Spithill's Oracle Team USA - stuck to traditional arm-grinding systems to generate power around their high-speed catamarans, the Kiwis revolutionised the event by introducing a cycle system that proved far more efficient.

Van Velthooven and Olympic rower Joe Sullivan were non-sailors recruited to the Team New Zealand engine room, but the former has decided to swap his bike full-time for something that floats.

"I was a cyclist for more than 10 years and I won big medals and big events," van Velthooven told Radio Sport's Alex Chapman.

"It was a great opportunity to go to Bermuda and now that the Cup is back in Auckland it [the 2021 event] is an opportunity not to be missed."

The 28-year-old admits he's still unsure whether he will be on the Kiwi syndicate's boat for the 36th America's Cup, with Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton on Friday leaving the door open for cyclors after earlier being quoted by Italian media as saying the role would be discarded in four years.

Dalton blamed reports in the newspaper La Stampa that cyclors would be "banned" on his answers being "lost in translation".

"I said 'grinders will be back' and then it sort of became 'cyclors will be banned'. But no they're not, it's open," Dalton said.

"Maybe they're the right way to go, maybe they're not. We'll wait and see how the boats turn out."

Van Velthooven is preparing for either eventuality.

"I've been keen to get on the water and do some traditional sailing [since returning to New Zealand]. I've done the winter series in Auckland and looking forward to the summer series on the Waitemata Harbour and hopefully that'll teach me some new skills and hopefully something about the new boat come 2021," he said.

"Since joining Team NZ I've done more upper body [training] than lower body anyway, so I'll just continue that curve ... just doing legs and arms and whatever way it goes, we'll adapt to it."

The return to monohulls, as confirmed by Dalton at the protocol announcement on Friday, won't mean less action on the water, van Velthooven says - despite critics insisting the decision to ditch the foiling catamarans was a step backwards.

"I'm sure being in an America's Cup boat will be high-performance and demanding. It'll need horsepower regardless, so I'm just making sure that I'm training the right way and learning the right things to put my best foot forward come the time when they need some sailors.

"If they go for a high-performance monohull, I think it'll be just as exciting as Bermuda if not more exciting.

"To be a grinder you need a lot more muscle mass. I'm going to the gym to get the upper body strong and fit. Training three or four days a week and going out on the harbour as much as I can," Van Velthooven said.