NYYC American Magic PATRIOT Day 44 Summary

It’s a fond farewell to Patriot, with the New York Yacht Club American Magic team concluding the weekend offshore before sailing her back to Pensacola to be greeted by patriotic red, white and blue flares to mark the end of her time as an America’s Cup workhorse. A graceful retirement awaits but it was one thoroughly entertaining final hurrah with the recon unit estimating that over 100 nautical miles was covered at blistering pace, so fast that in the seaway the recon RIB couldn’t keep up at times. Patriot was up and foiling for some 104 minutes, proving that there’s a lot of life still left in the tank and as a training and testing platform, she’s been sublime for the team at full scale. Paul Goodison, skipper alongside Riley Gibbs today, had a tinge of sadness about the de-commissioning of Patriot saying: “Yesterday we had some full on noise with up to 25 knots (of wind) and over 50 knots in every bear-away to then going outside and having a seaway - probably the biggest we’ve sailed Patriot in today - so a lot of challenging conditions and it's been great to experience that with the team from top to bottom and just see how everybody in the team has pretty much risen to the challenge. We've had two fantastic days sailing to finish Patriot here in Pensacola.” 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