American Magic needs to bounce back, and they’re ready for the challenge
by New York Yacht Club American Magic 15 Sep 12:21 PDT
September 15, 2024
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli vs. New York Yacht Club American Magic on Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals Day 2 – 15th September 2024 © Ian Roman / America’s Cup
American Magic headed into the second day of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals in a tough spot, needing to secure a win to remain in this best-of-nine matchup. With Luna Rossa ahead 2-0, the pressure was on the American team to change their fortunes.
The conditions mirrored those from the day before, featuring sunny skies and relatively calm waters. However, a southerly breeze gradually increased throughout the day, starting at 12 knots early on and reaching approximately 17 knots as the day progressed. NYYC American Magic returned to compete against the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team, eager to score points in this first-to-five series.
The Americans got off to a strong start in the first race, quickly getting off the line and matching the Italian boat to leeward. During the first upwind leg, both teams battled for dominance, but Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli managed to round the first windward mark 13 seconds ahead. After a largely even performance from both AC75s on the initial downwind leg, a mishap during a high-speed two-board rounding at the right-hand mark cost the Patriot crew valuable time. By rounding the next windward gate 30 seconds behind, the U.S. crew started to make up ground on the second downwind leg, reducing Luna Rossa’s lead by seven seconds. Despite NYYC American Magic’s strong efforts on the final lap, the Italian team finished 26 seconds ahead.
The second race of the day was an exhilarating contest, with the two boats staying within 15 seconds of each other at every turning mark. After a level start, the Italians managed to gain a narrow advantage on the first upwind leg, rounding the first windward gate just six seconds in front. The next two laps consisted of both crews playing a risky game of cat and mouse, with Luna Rossa covering tightly to fend off the advancing Americans. The race peaked at the final windward gate, where the Americans closed the gap to just three seconds behind their opponents.
The Patriot crew pressed their attack on the last leg, and as the two boats neared the finish line on opposing gybes, it was anyone’s race. In a tense finish, Luna Rossa crossed the line just two seconds ahead, clinching victory at the last moment and leaving American Magic with yet another narrow loss.
Tom Slingsby, helmsman for NYYC American Magic, understands the challenging road ahead for his team to remain in the competition, stating: “I just met with the guys and said: ‘Look guys, we’re losing by a couple of seconds each race and we’re making mistakes.’ If we weren’t making mistakes, I’d say our fate was sealed. But the truth is we’ve erred in every race, and we must tighten things up because there’s no room for errors anymore; we’re match-point down, but I’ve personally seen how quickly things can change, so I believe in our team.”
American Magic now finds itself in a do-or-die situation, needing to win every remaining race to maintain a shot at the 37th America’s Cup. The margin for error has vanished, but the battle continues.
