NYYC American Magic AC40-5 Day 3 Summary

Sport is a great leveller. Sailing is no different. The moment you get comfortable is the moment you stop learning so for the NYYC American Magic team, from the get-go today it was sailing well outside of the comfort zone in order to push and find the outer limits of the AC40 design. All credit to the sailors and programme managers, today they opted for the bigger waves offshore from Pensacola Bay and ran through a whole heap of uncomfortable modes when the option of low mode and blasting in the 12 knot breeze would have been far easier. But the America’s Cup is all about pushing to find that nth of speed or that dynamite technique that ekes your vessel forward and as the waves built, visibly ‘America’ could be seen altering ride height, playing with cant and tiptoeing on the fine margins of control. Speaking about the capsize, Tom was pretty nonchalant as all the pro-sailors are at these events, saying: “Obviously we’re sort of pushing it a little bit more and more learning the boat, and we were just going a bit higher on the ride height and the waves were getting bigger, just trying to see where the limits are and we had a big nosedive, we came out of the nosedive but then for some reason we rounded up and we weren't able to get the board down and yeah the boat slowly capsized over in to windward as we couldn't get the board down so we’ve got to figure out why that board function wasn't working.” Section 41. Reconnaissance a) As a campaign cost reduction measure, COR/D has mutually agreed to cooperatively implement a centralised reconnaissance programme for all teams for the reconnaissance of all Competitors’ AC75 Yachts, AC40 Yachts and LEQ12 yachts including both on-land and on-water imagery (the “Joint Recon Programme”). b) Each team is assigned a two-person Recon Unit to follow their every on-water move, but it's not that simple. The cameras are supplied and identical for all Recon Units. Drones are not allowed, and they can't get that close, plus following a boat and keeping a camera steady at 45 knots isn't that easy to begin with. c) A three minute interview follows each on water day, and teams must answer the Recon Unit's questions while trying not to give too much away. It's a raw, unedited view of the never before seen behind-the-scenes development of a team and their boat to win the oldest trophy in international sports. #AC37Recon #AmericasCup #Barcelona2024