Summary: This is the seventh in a series of videos describing the roles of crew members aboard the BMW ORACLE America's Cup Racing Yacht. In this episode we watch the Trimmers tune the sails for maximum performance. The headsail trimmer crouches low on the leeward side of the boat just behind the trailing edge of the genoa. This is right in the wind slot between the headsail and mainsail which acts like a turbo charger, firing alternate bursts of sea spray and wind at the trimmer as the boat accelerates. "You are pretty well rinsed by the time you come off the water" says Zach Hurst, one of the younger trimmers aboard. Directing the muscle power of the grinders, who handle loads up to 4-tons, the trimmer alters the shape of the headsail. He coordinates with the mainsail trimmer who uses a winch to position the boom and adjust the angle of the mainsail to the wind. Depending on the course direction, the trimmers adjust the sails for optimum shape and speed. Their interaction directs the flow of wind over the sails, driving the yacht forward. You can view the entire 22-minute BMW ORACLE Racing Crew video on Sail.TV. For updates and coverage of the 32nd America's Cup from Valencia, Spain, tune into Sail.TV. Be sure to subscribe to this free video podcast series and our other sailing podcasts at TheSailingChannel.TV.
