In an effort to give themselves an edge, Chris Dickson's America's Cup team throw a man overboard every day.
Not to reduce weight but to ensure they start their races in the fickle Valencia conditions with the latest information from their weather team.
All external communication with the
yacht must stop before the five-minute gun when the teams enter the startbox.
Most teams throw their communication equipment into a waterproof case and biff it overboard.
Not BMW Oracle Racing. They biff New Zealander Rod Dawson overboard as well.
Dawson is on board during the warmup while the weather team and crew discuss what the breeze is going to do - Crucial information in developing a plan for the pre-start and establishing which side of the course is best.
A member of the weather team, Dawson is also a regular member of the afterguard, so is useful when it comes to receiving the weather information and helping his teammates to settle on a game plan.
In the last few seconds before the five-minute gun, he gives his final advice, gathers up all the radios and cellphones, puts them into two watertight containers and flings himself overboard.
"We are cutting the time down every day," he said. "It helps to have an extra person in the afterguard in that period leading up to the entry.
"Valencia is a tricky place to get the tactics and the strategy right in terms of the wind. Often our calls can change at the last minute, so we want to get the very latest bit of information we can to make changes if necessary."
Asked about his exit off the boat, Dawson says his approach is more low key than exhibitionist.
So far the best score his crewmates have given him is 3 out of 10.
"I am just working on keeping my head above water," he confessed. "Everybody else wants to see something more entertaining."
Traveller/trimmer Sean Clarkson, when asked if he had any sympathy for Dawson's daily swim in the cool Valencia water, said not at all.
"It has been the highlight of the last two weeks."
