NYYC American Magic PATRIOT Day 28 Summary

They dispersed around the globe for the holiday season but starting 2023 exactly where they left off in 2022, saw New York Yacht Club American Magic back out on the waters of Pensacola for another blistering afternoon of test sailing. The mark of this team is their relentless “commitment to the commitment” to quote the great Dennis Conner and their on-water time has been valuable, lengthy and productive. The first team back on the water, they meant business today and the Floridian winter played ball. With Riley Gibbs taking the alternate helm for the first time today, alongside Paul Goodison with Tom Slingsby still away in Australia, the team opted to stay inshore and go through a series of windward/leeward runs to shake down Patriot after the short Christmas break. An issue internally with the Foil Cant System halted proceedings for a little over an hour whilst the expert shore team jumped onboard and solved the problem and allowed for another hour and a half of sailing into the early dusk. 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