American Magic Competes Fiercely on Day 1 of Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals
by New York Yacht Club American Magic 14 Sep 11:06 PDT
September 14, 2024
Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals day 1 © NYYC American Magic
The first day of the Semi-Final round of the Louis Vuitton Cup featured two fierce and closely fought races between NYYC American Magic and the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team.
The races took place in southern winds ranging from seven to 12 knots, with a relatively calm sea and 0.6-meter waves originating from the east.
Before the initial race, an issue on board Patriot prompted the team to ask for a 15-minute delay, but once this was addressed, American Magic was back at full capability. Tom Slingsby skillfully launched the yacht into the starting area from the starboard end precisely on schedule.
Following some tight maneuvering between the crews pre-start, it was NYYC American Magic that clinched the start, under the Italians, who were marginally late and had to tack onto port. After a series of close crosses on the initial upwind leg, American Magic rounded the left-side gate mark in front, leading Luna Rossa, who opted for the right gate, by mere seconds.
American Magic raced efficiently and quickly down the first run, extending their lead to 20 seconds at the leeward gate—a margin they kept until a brief touchdown hampered Patriot at the second windward mark, letting Luna Rossa close in. By the conclusion of the second downwind leg, American Magic remained in front, but the Italians rounded closely on Patriot’s stern. At the end of the final upwind leg, Luna Rossa had moved ahead by 22 seconds.
The American crew maintained the pressure, and after harnessing a bit more breeze on the final downwind leg, they succeeded in narrowing the gap to just seven seconds at the finish line.
Though the outcome was tough for American Magic, their performance showcased their potential to compete at the highest level under duress. The close loss built anticipation for an exhilarating second race.
The second race was yet another tightly matched affair. American Magic secured the start at the pin end and dominated the first upwind leg, rounding the top mark 10 seconds in front. They sustained their lead at the leeward gate but briefly could not stay on the foils during the rounding, allowing Luna Rossa to reclaim the lead. However, a swift recovery brought Patriot back onto the foils quickly, enabling them to match bows with the Italians on the next cross.
Regrettably, the rest of the windward leg was in favor of Luna Rossa, who established a 20-second lead at the second windward gate. Despite remaining assertive for the remainder of the race, American Magic was unable to regain an attacking position, with Luna Rossa finishing ahead by 13 seconds.
On Day 1 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals, American Magic fought valiantly in both races, with only minor moments and shifts influencing the results. Luna Rossa leads the series 2-0; however, with the first-to-five format, much racing remains ahead. American Magic has shown they are more than capable of reversing the trend, and their resilience will be crucial as they aim to rebound in the upcoming days.
Meanwhile, in the other Semi-Final matchup, Great Britain’s INEOS Britannia took a 2-0 advantage over Switzerland’s Alinghi Red Bull Racing after two decisive victories.
Stay tuned for more thrilling action as the semi-finals progress. American Magic is far from finished, and the contest for the Louis Vuitton Cup is just heating up!
For complete results and standings, visit www.americascup.com/results
