0A IMMEDIATE SEND EBLAST

This Challenger Selection Series has certainly been a challenge for New York  Yacht Club’s American Magic.  First of all, they lost their first race Friday and on Saturday did not perform well in tricky light winds, losing both races on Saturday. And then on a windier, very windy, Sunday, PATRIOT had a solid lead, looking hopeful for their first win as they rounded the final mark, but a 25-knot rain squall (intense storm of rain and wind that lasts minutes) sent PATRIOT flying into the air. Then she crashed down onto her side. They could not right it. “We didn’t realize the severity of the situation at first,” said Skipper and Executive Director Terry Hutchinson. “The first half hour I thought it was going to sink.”

But through heroic efforts from first responders, the chase boats, and the crew, it did not. The chase boats threw out cables and were able to right the boat as all the competing teams and the Defender hurried out to help save the PATRIOT. Tragically, they discovered a large hole in the hull on the port side. Emergency responders gave them the saving grace  – life raft boats –  which they wrapped under PATRIOT and it stopped sinking. It took hours to get tugged back to the dock and lift PATRIOT out of the water. The American Magic Team went right into repair mode. Unfortunately, they will not be able to race this weekend, Jan 22-24. as they continue the repairs, but hopefully American Magic’s PATRIOT will be back sailing in the water for the Semi Finals Jan 29-31. After watching the competing teams race to help the US team, you learn a lot about this sailing community. All three teams offered their help in any way as American Magic repairs its boat. (The photo to the left is how we can tap into that lead they had over the Italians and wish the US good luck when they return to sailing.)

Scoreboard:

• INEOS Team UK                                              4
• Luna Rossa PRADA Pirelli Team                  2
• New York Yacht Club American Magic        0

17/01/21 – Auckland (NZL) 36th America’s Cup presented by PRADA PRADA Cup 2021 – Round Robin 2 Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, New York Yacht Club American Magic

Credit © COR 36 | Studio Borlenghi

Credit Terry Hutchinson image © Sailing Energy

Emirates Team New Zealand is the Defender of the America’s Cup, affectionately known as the Auld Mug. The race for the Challenger is on!

It’s happening beginning January 15 down under in Auckland, New Zealand, 20 hours ahead of us, and ending February 22. Three teams are competing to be the America’s Cup Challenger: New York Yacht Club’s American Magic, INEOS TEAM UK, and Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.

The score so far in Round Robin 1: Brits 2 – Americans 0 – Italians 0.

It was a surprise since the British team had struggled throughout December’s PRADA America’s Cup World Series Auckland. They must have worked strategically and hard during the Christmas break because they shined on day one with two wins. In the first race INEOS TEAM UK did everything right and their boat BRITANNIA won over American Magic’s PATRIOT by a solid margin. And in Race 2 they had a 28-second win over Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.

According to Terry Hutchinson, Skipper and Executive Director of American Magic, it was evident that whichever boat was in more wind, was going faster. “It was a pretty tough race,” said Dean Barker, PATRIOT’s helmsman. “We got off the line in OK shape and didn’t really expect it to be quite as big a difference at North Head. Clearly that gave the control to INEOS, and they sailed a really good race. We knew going into today they were going a lot better from what we’d seen in the practice racing.”

On January 16  Race 3 of RR1 will start at 3:15 PM NZT, weather permitting, with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs American Magic.  Round Robin 2, Race 1 will follow with INEOS TEAM UK vs American Magic.

The 36^th America’s Cup will take place in Auckland Saturday, March 6 through Sunday, March 21

Photo Credit © COR 36 | Studio Borlenghi