Throughout an incredible sporting career, Hamish Bond has spent plenty of time on the water and almost as much time on a bike.
Just not at the same time and never this fast.
The three-time Olympic rowing gold medallist has been added to the Emirates Team NZ crew for their 2024 America's Cup defence at Barcelona, but his foiling foray onto the Waitematā Harbour this week was a new adventure.
"To be honest, the first time on a yacht," he admitted. "It's a great experience, something completely different for me.
"There's not greater sensation of how fast you're going, unless you lift your head up... it's like sticking your head out of the window of a car going more than 100kph. That's the sensation you get.
"First time over 50 knots and first time on a yacht - a lot of firsts today."
Luckily, the boat won't rely on Bond's sailing skills to travel fast - all it needs is his brute strength, which he can provide in abundance. As one of the cyclors, his legs will power the sails used to harness the wind.
Bond, 37, retired from rowing after helping the men's eight to gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but is probably better known for his combination with Eric Murray that dominated the coxless pair event for eight years, including two Olympic golds and six world titles.
He's not the first crosscode recruit to join the NZ sailing team - Olympic single sculls champion Rob Waddell was a grinder on three campaigns, fulfilling the same task Bond will perform with his legs, except with his arms.
Olympic sprint cyclist Simon van Velthooven was one of the original cyclors on Team NZ's successful 2017 America's Cup challenge at Bermuda.
Luckily, Bond also has impressive cycling credentials, claiming a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in the road time trial at gold Coast 2018 and even setting a national 4000m individual pursuit record on a rare track outing.
Joining him on Team NZ are former Coast to Coast multisport champion Doug Allan and professional cyclist Louis Crosby.
The big thing for me is learning when and how to put power through the pedals," said Allan. "That's something I've learned heaps more about every time I've been on the boat.
"A lot of the time, you're pushing that hard, you don't really want to know what's going on, you're just focused on doing the job at hand."
Bond concurs: "In some ways, ignorance is bliss. You just go in and put your trust in a really experience crew, and pedal as hard as you can, when they need you to.
"It's like being in a foxhole on a wind-trainer... but the wind-trainer's name is Mike Tyson."
