[/quote]
Tim,
Watch the helicopter close ups in today's race, or go back and watch some replays. They essentially are grinding in a recessed tub. Those ports,drains are to allow the water to drain out. They are constantly getting bathed by a water shower. [/quote]

Ahhh, OK, thanks. That makes sense.

I didn't realize they had a 'bathtub' type of **** for the grinder's stations. I thought the inner part was open to the tramp, so they could move in and out easier, and the water would drain out through the netting. I've been watching the Oracle boat(s) today and I can see the crew jumping in an out of that deep well where the grinding stations are, no wonder they have scuppers! I wonder why they didn't just leave the inner wall off and move the tramp down a foot?

And...are we ever going to see any real racing? All this breakage is nutz!