Former ironman champion Ky Hurst will do the heavy lifting when Australia hits the water in next month's inaugural SailGP on Sydney Harbour.
The two-time Olympic ocean swimmer and surf sport great has taken seamlessly to his code switch since taking the plunge three years ago.
An America's Cup campaign already under his belt, Hurst will serve as grinder under skipper and Olympic sailing champion Tom Slingsby.
The 37-year-old Gold Coaster will work the winches that create the power as they aim to crack the 50-knot barrier, which is nearly 100km/h.
Slingsby has described the high-tech F50 vessel, launched in Sydney on Thursday ahead of the February 15-16 event, as "the Formula One on water".
"To look back six, eight years ago and see what I'm sailing and who I'm sailing with now, I wouldn't be able to dream this up," Hurst said.
"Anyone um-ing and ah-ing about coming to watch, I guarantee you won't be let down.
"The boats are so quick, so agile and just look so cool."
Hurst is anything but a token addition to a team stacked with sailing prowess, having brought a new level of fitness to the sport ever since getting in touch with Slingsby in 2015.
Swimming training helps the crew control their breathing and heart rate while on the water, while Hurst has done plenty of paddling to ensure he is physically up to the task.
"I've got to be the fittest guy on the boat (as grinder)," he said.
"But we've all got to be fit, lean and alert ... be able to think on your feet under fatigue.
"A few rowers have also made the move into sailing and I think it's really lifted the level of the sport."
Teams from Great Britain, United States, Australia, France, China, Japan will race three times on the Friday and again on Saturday before the top two race for the title.
TEAM AUSTRALIA
* Tom Slingsby (skipper) - Olympic gold medallist, four-time world sailing champion, America's Cup-winning skipper
* Kyle Langford (wing trimmer) - America's Cup winner and 2010 RC44 world champion.
* Sam Newton (grinder) - America's Cup winner, six-time 18-foot skiff world champion, 2018 Sydney to Hobart winner.
* Ky Hurst (grinder) - Dual Olympian in ocean swim, seven-time ironman champion, Surf Life Saving Hall of Fame member.
* Jason Waterhouse (flight controller and tactician) - 2016 Olympic silver medallist.
Australian Associated Press
