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AmericaOne San Pedro Chronicles:
The First Law of Grinding . . . Energy ConservationSAN PEDRO, CA - August 12, 1999 - Training has started in San Pedro and will continue until the end of August. For daily reports on activities ashore and afloat, visit this site daily for news, commentary and photographs.
Daily Report, August 12, 1999
Thursdays . . . I dread them, almost as much as Tuesdays. Those are the days we run on the beach. Somehow Billy Bates manages to lead us through our paces and still exhort us on. You have to admire that level of fitness. We will have media onboard today, so we are all excited about that. But other than that we will be having what passes for a normal day.
I am a grinder with AmericaOne and have the distinction of being the most seasoned, (read oldest) member of the sailing team. This is my fifth America's Cup and so far this is shaping up to be the most promising and comprehensive effort I have ever been involved with.
The other grinders on the team are exceptional world class sailors and it is my task to help them hone their skills for pending competition. I have been conducting Grinding 101. The first lesson I have tried to impart to my sometimes overeager charges is what I refer to as the First Law of Grinding: Energy Conservation. Do not put out more energy than the job requires, reason being if you have spent yourself early on, you may not have the reserves for that last leg grinding duel, which almost invariably happens.
The second rule/law is don't do anything stupid. This is actually an adjunct to the first law. What I am trying to teach them is not to do anything that will potentially injure themselves, or the equipment, or worse still, someone else. I try to teach them to think ahead, and anticipate what is happening and what may happen.
I have many other rules and laws and corollaries, but I am being paged, I think I might have to move some sails. We will be leaving the dock shortly. Another day in Camp America's Cup.
Jim Nicholas
Grinder
AmericaOneSailing TeamAbout The Challenge
AmericaOne
is dedicated to recapturing the America’s Cup by applying U.S. technology in computer equipment, aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, sail design, naval architecture and structural engineering to America's Cup sailboat design. Technology partners include Hewlett-Packard Company, Bellcore/SAIC and Ford Motor Company/Visteon. The AmericaOne team is comprised of 43 professionals, including 30 members of the design team actively working on the research and design of its sailboats. Operating since June 1, 1996, AmericaOne is the challenger on behalf of San Francisco’s St. Francis Yacht Club.
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