Perched on the shores of the deepwater Pensacola Bay, in the farthest northwest corner of the Florida Panhandle, the city of Pensacola had for years eluded the sailing spotlight. So-named for the long-haired indigenous inhabitants encountered by the Spanish explorers of the 1500s, Pensacola’s identity has ebbed and flowed with the tides. This City of Five Flags was abandoned for nearly a century after a hurricane wiped out its original Spanish inhabitants, to later be governed by France, Great Britain, the US and the Confederate States of America. 

A significant economic contributor to Florida for timber and fishing in the 1930s and 1940s, Pensacola’s sailing culture flourished in the decades that followed but fell dormant in the aftermath of the 1970s and 1980s hurricanes, which once again drove an entire generation elsewhere. 

With a history as turbulent as the hurricanes that defined it, the city on the bay is rising again, this time capitalizing on its distinguishing geographic features. 

Immediate past commodore of the Pensacola Yacht Club Tom Pace knows the city—and its bay—quite well. The once-professional windsurfer grew up in Pensacola, moved away during the aforementioned dormant years, but returned to care for his ailing parents. His love for Pensacola inspired a Quixote-esque quest to showcase the bay’s ideal location and sailing conditions. 

Spanning roughly 5-by-11 miles in depths of 22 to 32 feet, Pensacola Bay’s sail-racing area takes advantage of the optimal sailing conditions. Here, wind conditions vary from season to season, but serve up a perfect 8.1 mph average punctuated by 15 to 25 mph frontal surges between October and May. The warmer months see light winds in the morning building into a southwesterly sea breeze later in the day.

The bay has been home to several notable youth sailing events in recent years, including the 2018 Optimist National Championship and the US Sailing Youth National Championship, as well as a host of national and international regattas. 

“It had been a dream for years,” Pace says. “We are trying to rebuild a sailing culture.” 

Pace’s vision coincided with the brewing of the perfect storm—one propelled by the New York Yacht Club’s decision to challenge the 36th America’s Cup. Led by three-time Maxi72-class champion and yachtsman John “Hap” Fauth, businessman Roger Penske and Quantum Racing head Doug DeVos, the AC Cup Challenger team American Magic was looking for a training base. Key West offered the infrastructure but temperamental conditions. Pensacola’s protected bay, on the other hand, offered conditions similar to Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf.

“We kept bugging American Magic to relocate from Key West to Pensacola,” Pace says. “The bay offers winds from every direction and, unlike San Francisco or New York, it’s not as seasonal. The cost of living factors in as well.” Team representative Dr. Jim Andrews visited during a particularly stellar 40-knot day. “We got a call a month later from Tyson Lamont (WHO). They would need a dock, containers, and stakes for tent structures for the AC36 Challenger team who would use Pensacola Bay as its winter training base, named Warehouse 10.

“In the 1984 Olympics, the US took gold or silver in each of 12 sailing medal divisions,” said Pace. “Since then we’ve fallen off; during the past three Olympic cycles, the US has had one medal. Hap and Doug saw this stagnation of American sailing and went back to the cradle. They needed a performance sailing center.”

In 2020, the biggest names in American sailing turned their attention not only to US sailing, but to Pensacola as well. Names such as Paul Cayard, Dawn Riley, Ray Palmer, Terry Hutchinson, and Mike Cazer were each influential in the fledgling opti, foils, and Moth events now surging on the bay.

This year, Pace’s vision for Pensacola came one step closer to reality when the board of Triumph Gulf Coast voted unanimously to approve an $8.5 million grant for design, renovation, and completion of the American Magic training facility. The new Center for Maritime Excellence will serve as the permanent headquarters for the American Magic team. On top of this, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a $3.9 million grant from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to strengthen Pensacola’s infrastructure and “promote economic opportunities in the sailing industry for the Florida Panhandle.”

“There is a lot of excitement here now that real hard dollars are going into our vision,” says Pace. “None of this would have been possible without Merrill Land Company President/Owner Collier Merrill at the state level and Ellis Bullock, President/Creative Director of marketing and communications firm EW Bullock on the local level. Without them we would not have begun the sponsorship of American Magic. In fact, Pensacola, Florida will now be displayed on the sails through the Cup Finals. They have been critical to the relationship with local leaders as well as with the Governor, Florida Senators and Congressmen, and remain the bedrock of all of this.

“Our task now is to build out the infrastructure,” says Pace. “The marina space may be a challenge but the water is not. There is a load of potential in revitalizing the waterfront as well as downtown Pensacola.”

Now that the momentum is going, Pace can already taste an American Magic win in Barcelona. “If American Magic wins, how do we shape up the defense in Pensacola? There is a lot of excitement. We need tourist development and the county engaged, if it’s all going to work. What we have is an incredibly cohesive core group that we hope will influence the ancillaries. Everything has been set, we have legitimate money, everybody is in. If you build a little bit of infrastructure, you will attract a lot.”

Godspeed, Pensacola. We’ll see you on the bay.

To learn more about Pensacola sailing visit www.visitpensacola.com/feature/sailing/.

The post Winds of Change appeared first on Sailing World.

While some might question how much trickle-down there is from the current breed of foiling America’s Cup boats to the average sailor, there’s one area certain to benefit all of us—technical sailing clothing. In their second campaign with American Magic, Helly Hansen has been in constant consultation with the team to develop what, for us, represents the next generation of innovations in technical gear. Some are specific to AC boats, such as where knives and rescue air will be stored or strategically placed armor. But other aspects, such as the continued development of highly resilient materials that allow sailors to perform at the highest levels, are something we’re already seeing in Helly Hansen’s commercially available products. And while you can’t purchase the exact gear the American Magic team wears on the water yet (select pieces will be available next year), you can get a version of it, right now, through Helly Hansen’s In-Line Sailing Collection that feature some of the favorite pieces the team uses day in and day out. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Helly Hansen’s partnership with American Magic has also resulted in something sailors will love: the AC 37 NYYC American Magic Supporter Collection. We got a sneak peek at a few samples of the product line, which will have limited availability on the Helly Hansen website, with more gear being introduced throughout the campaign. A new red, white and blue American Magic logo adorns the back of each piece of gear, as well as a smaller version of the logo on the front.

First was the waterproof crew jacket, which is perfect for those cool spring sailing days when you’re on deck and just need a small buffer to keep the elements away, or maybe for a cool, foggy morning beach walk. It’s just a great, all-around grab-and-go jacket. You’ll appreciate the fleece-lined collar, behind which is an envelope for the hood, and fleece-lined front pockets. Speaking of pockets, there’s all you’ll need, including a front breast pocket for stashing a cellphone, the aforementioned hand-warmer pockets, and an inside security pocket.  But what’s really cool is the mesh liner in both the jacket body and the hood—the perfect moisture barrier. 

Then Helly offers the American Magic hoodie and racing tee.. The hoodie is made from cotton and includes a beefy drawstring and usual kangaroo-style pocket, for a classic comfy feel. The Racing Tee feels and acts like cotton but is actually made from recycled polyester that has been infused with recycled coffee grounds during the fiber creation process to provide everlasting UPF protection and natural anti-odor properties – yes, from recycled coffee grounds. It comes in what Helly Hansen calls a gray “fog,” in other words, a light gray. It’s a great all-around color that will keep you from overheating on hot days but not show dirt as easily as a white tee. It’s perfect for working on and around boats—or just showing support for the American Magic team. The Supporter Collection has a coolness factor that takes them well beyond your typical hoodie or tee.

The collection includes a wide variety of practical items, including tech T-shirts, jackets, pullovers, polo shirts, fleece, backpacks, belts and hats—something for every taste, interest and budget. And while much of it is unisex, there are a number of products designed specifically for women and kids, including a polo shirt, vest and fleece pullover for women, and tees and hats for kids. For more information on the complete collection, go to: hellyhansen.com/mens/shop-by/american-magic.

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The American Magic’s summer sailing squad includes Olympic Gold Medalists Tom Slingsby and Paul Goodison, Olympic Bronze Lucas Calabrese, U.S. Olympians Andrew Campbell and Riley Gibbs, and Etchell World Champion Michael Menninger.

Under the leadership of Terry Hutchinson, Skipper and President of Sailing Operations, and Coach Tom Burnham, NYYC American Magic has assembled a group comprising a mix of youthful talent and experienced sailors. Eleven athletes will embark on their first America’s Cup cycle, including Harry Melges, who was named US Sailing’s 2021 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year.

Hutchinson and Burnham have selected seven afterguard members and ten cyclors, showcasing the squad’s flexibility, as many sailors can fulfill multiple positions.

“We are fortunate to have assembled a strong sailing team. The squad represents a good balance of experience on the water and athletically with the cyclors. The process put forward by training coaches Baden Cashmore and Ben Day to develop the power plant of the team has produced significant results.” said Terry Hutchinson.

“Our training will continue on the coastal waters off of Barcelona.  We look forward to learning the venue and focusing on developing our platforms.”

The team will train in Barcelona ahead of the first Preliminary Regatta of the 37th America’s Cup in Vilanova i la Geltrú. The racing is scheduled to take place over four days between September 14th and 17th, 2023, in the new foiling class – the AC40.

Having recently relocated from Pensacola, American Magic is now based in Barcelona for the final phase of the 37th America’s Cup campaign in 2024. The 37th America’s Cup will be held in Barcelona, Spain, in September and October 2024.

The Squad:

Afterguard: 
Lucas Calabrese, Andrew Campbell, Riley Gibbs, Paul Goodison, Harry Melges, Michael Menninger, Tom Slingsby.

Cyclors:
Trevor Burd, John Croom, Cooper Dressler, Colton Hall, Tim Hornsby, Ashton Lambie, Madison Molitor, Ethan Seder, Chris Shirley, James Wright.

The post American Magic Gets to Work in Barcelona appeared first on Sailing World.

American Magic’s AC75 Patriot glides through the water near Pensacola, Florida, and as it picks up speed with the day’s favorable winds, the imposing dark hull rises from the water and begins to plane on its hydrofoils. Crouched near the bow, pedaling furiously, John Croom is lashed by spray. His earpiece crackles with chatter from the rest of the crew. He has watched videos of America’s Cup boats. He’s logged hundreds of hours of training on land. But this is his first time—his first time on any sailboat.

“Still to this day, that’s one of the most euphoric moments I’ve ever had in my career,” Croom says. “Getting the opportunity to sail, and then just feeling that actual takeoff and being on the foils was something super special. That was the day I fell in love with it.”

While some of sailing’s traditionalists bristle at the inclusion of cyclors in lieu of grinders on America’s Cup boats, there’s no turning back now. The technology will be found on every boat in the 2024 America’s Cup.

This novel power-delivery method has opened the door for newcomers like Croom to hop aboard, like throwing a ­drivers-ed student into a Formula 1. It has also led to a revolution in the way America’s Cup teams recruit talent, hone their physiological training, and use cycling know-how to power the AC75’s hydraulic controls.

“We’re finding that cyclors bring much more power to the table,” says Ben Day, American Magic’s performance lead. “Cycling uses much bigger muscle groups; therefore, they can produce more power than arm grinders. And with the new AC75 regulations of reducing crew numbers (eight sailors total), we need to find that power in other ways. So, most teams are looking at cyclors at this stage. Glutes, quads and hamstrings can produce more explosive power and more power for a longer sustained period.”

Day is another example of someone outside the sailing establishment who quickly entered American Magic’s inner circle. Day had a 12-year career as a professional cyclist, racing primarily in North America. Once he retired from racing, the Australian started Day by Day Coaching out of his adopted hometown of Boulder, Colorado.

Not surprisingly, Day and American Magic looked to the cycling world to find athletes to fill their “power teams.” The team had preliminary conversations with Kiel Reijnen, a professional rider who spent six years in cycling’s WorldTour, racing the sport’s premier events, such as the Tour of Spain, Tour of Flanders, and multiple UCI World Championships.

“We focused on leg-­dominant power sports, with similar activities that would fit the needs for racing on the boat,” says Day of the recruitment process. “We have taken time to examine a whole list of athletes that might fit the bill, and then have reached out to consider interest.”

It wasn’t as simple as assembling a bench of top cyclists. The rule book states the combined weight of the eight-person crew must be between 680 and 700 kilograms. Split evenly, that means each person should be between 85 and 87.5 kilograms. Reijnen weighs 65 kilograms. It’s rare to find a pro cyclist that weighs more than 80 kilograms because power-to-weight ratio in cycling rules all. Cyclists can control both variables in the power-to-weight equation. Training can boost power output, measured in watts. They can also lose weight to improve their power-to-weight ratio. Naturally, any given rider has limits for both variables. The best professionals are extremely efficient in their power production and astonishingly lean. It would be a tall order for someone like Reijnen to gain 20 kilograms without compromising their power output.

Croom is uniquely suited to the challenge, having found cycling late in life after playing football in his younger years and at times weighing close to 136 kilograms. Though he slimmed down to about 90, he’d never be suited for road cycling. Track cycling, on the other hand, was a good fit. Since track events are held on a flat, 250-meter track, weight can be sacrificed at the expense of raw power.

Ashton Lambie is another hopeful on American Magic’s power team who never quite fit cycling’s mold. This mustachioed Nebraskan holds the record for the fastest ride across the state of Kansas. He’s also the only human to ever ride the 4 km track pursuit event in under four minutes.

The riders you might see on television at the Tour de France are not going to be aboard an AC75 in Barcelona. Similarly, the athletes who have been recruited to pedal the cyclors aren’t ready to ride on day one, despite their extensive backgrounds in cycling. Intense training is underway to prepare them for the demands of an America’s Cup race.

“There are periods where we spend time focusing more on endurance or strength development,” Day says. “At other times, we’re working more around the high-intensity phases.”

While American Magic has been mum about the specifics of the training and the AC75’s power demands, Croom has posted many of his recent workouts and training rides on Strava, an online activity tracker.

Croom has done extensive endurance work, already logging weekly rides longer than 80 miles in January. He’s also been completing viciously intense interval workouts to build his body’s tolerance for maximum efforts. For example, he was able to hold 371 watts for 20 minutes in one such workout. Simply a statistic, right? I’ve been racing bikes for the last 25 years, and at my best, I can hold 302 watts for 20 minutes. Someone without training or experience would do well to maintain just half of Croom’s wattage.

While the training and performance of these new crewmembers are opaque, the technical details of the AC75 are practically impenetrable. American Magic’s spokespeople and crew did not answer specific questions about how the hydraulic power system works, but what we do know is that the boat has a hydraulic accumulator tank, which stores pressure generated by the cyclors. The crew uses a hydraulic actuator to convert the tank’s pressure into force, which in turn powers the boat’s controls. Any time the boat needs to tack, jibe or simply trim a sail, power is needed.

Sources indicate that the hydraulic accumulator results in a very unusual feel at the pedals for the power team. It’s also believed that as the tank gets full, the effort to add more pressure to the accumulator becomes harder.

“We can change the different inputs to the system,” James Wright, of the American Magic power team, told the America’s Cup Recon Unit, which monitors and reports on the team’s developments. “The different power demands necessitate different inputs from us on our side. The system kind of auto-adjusts depending on the demands from the sails and, of course, what we can give it.”

It’s easy to imagine how the team might strategize its efforts, given the intensity of a 20- to 30-minute America’s Cup race and the essentially limitless power demands of the boat. They might attempt to keep the tank as low as possible with steady, moderate pedaling, and then fill it as fast as possible with maximum effort ahead of a demanding maneuver like a tack. Perhaps some of the four riders would be specifically reserved for all-out efforts to fill the tank on demand, while others would ride steadily to feed power to minor adjustments.

Whatever the strategy, it is clear that the entire crew needs to be in lock-step during a race. “When we talk about the sailing team, we consider the power team part of a sailing team; they have to work in cohesion,” Day says. “The afterguard will request efforts from the guys as they trim the boat, and they’ll learn what they can deliver in terms of power. And the guys will give it their all to deliver what’s asked of them. So, there must be solid cohesion between the two groups; ultimately, we are one team.”

Clearly, the sailors, engineers and coaches are working furiously to optimize the use of the cyclors. There is another area of the sport that has some catching up to do, and that is World Cycling’s anti-doping controls. Even the casual cycling fan is aware that performance-­enhancing drugs have long tarnished the sport’s reputation. Given the massive physiological demands placed on the AC75’s power team, the sport’s governing body, World Sailing, would be wise to heed the lessons of cycling’s past.

In the wake of a major doping scandal about 10 years ago, cycling began rigorously testing athletes out of competition because it was found riders could achieve huge performance gains by doping for training and then cleaning up in time for in-competition controls at races. It stands to reason that this is a major liability for the America’s Cup, given the amount of run-up that the teams have to train for the 2024 event.

Although World Sailing conducted 186 in-competition tests between 2020 and 2022, including anti-doping ­controls at the last America’s Cup, it did not conduct any out-of-­competition controls during those three years. To ramp up efforts for the 2024 Cup, World Sailing brought on Vasi Naidoo as its director of legal and governance. Naidoo has experience with anti-doping efforts at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, and she served on the Ethics Commission at the UCI, cycling’s international governing body. World Sailing confirmed that there will be out-of-­competition anti-doping tests in 2023, and the testing will include America’s Cup athletes.

Fortunately, on the whole, the interplay between cycling and sailing—two unlikely ­bedfellows—has resulted in a fascinating exchange of technology and science. “The transition to cyclors allows a tech-forward, applied-­sciences sport to pull in a completely separate sport and borrow technology from it,” says Reijnen, who himself is an accomplished sailor, having finished the WA360 event sailed out of Port Townsend, Washington, in 2021. “What does sailing borrow from cycling, but what does cycling then borrow from sailing?”

Even at the person-to-person level, this exchange of information and experiences has been rapid and, in fact, quite cordial.

“The coolest part about being part of this team is that I came into this group of sailors so new and so green,” Croom says. “And they were super-­welcoming, understanding, and trying to get me to learn as quickly as possible. Like, any questions I had, there was no such thing as a dumb question, and that was something special.”

The post The Cyclors of American Magic appeared first on Sailing World.

America’s Cup training bases like that of the New York YC’s American Magic, are nothing fancy, but behind the curtained walls and inside modified shipping containers and mobile offices are vibrant centers of innovation, high-level sports training facilities, sophisticated workshops, technological research facilities and boatyards. Here, the work is mostly dirty and determined, yet the mission is clear: win the America’s Cup.

There are, of course, hundreds of moving parts that must be coordinated with a precision that any rank of military brass would appreciate, especially when the entire operation is wrapped, packed and shifted to Barcelona early this summer. Like every America’s Cup team dating back to the first defense in 1870, the goal in Pensacola is to create a fast boat and prepare a skilled crew. The specifics of design technology, construction and tactical gambits are closely guarded secrets because often the smallest innovation can make the difference between victory and defeat. This much was reinforced during a recent visit with American Magic where the attitude of the team and the long to-do lists loomed large.  Terry Hutchinson is the team’s skipper and head of the sailing team.  He will not be sailing on the boat for this Cup, but is involved of every aspect of the program.  

Veteran America’s Cup designer, Scott Ferguson, is overseeing the work of a 30-member design team, which includes, Len Imas, Pete Melvin and Britt Ward, all experienced America’s Cup hands. The design group was able to dive deep into the analytics of Patriot, American Magic’s AC75 which famously crashed and capsized in Auckland. The second-generation AC75 hulls for Barcelona in 2024 will be about 1,000 kilograms lighter and the number of crew is reduced from eleven to eight. Winch grinders are replaced by cyclists who will pedal to make hydraulic power, which is used to trim the sails and operate several foil components. The boat itself is filled with a maze of wires, lines, and hydraulic tubes that spread like veins throughout the boat.

The hull must be strong to withstand heavy loads when sailing at high speeds (over 50 knots at times) and yet light enough for fast takeoff. It is a tricky balance to keep the boat on its foils throughout the entire race, especially given how difficult it is to take off in winds less than 8 knots.

Creating the correct foil package, therefore, is one of the most important tasks of the design team. The loads on the foils are tremendous. Barcelona features choppy waves that will add more strain when foiling. Over the next several months, every team will experiment with up to four different foil designs on their AC40s or prototypes. Each team will be allowed to only race with one foil design. It can’t be changed once the competition starts. There are many design factors to consider: Should the foils be allowed to bend? Longer foils are easier to lift the boat out of the water, but slower once the boat is foiling. There are a variety of endplates to consider, and the flaps that control the “flight” must work easily and reliably. I noticed a smooth carbon fiber skin on the foil blade, there are no creases in the joints, and everything is beautifully engineered. I was told the final foil design package will take about three months to build.

The sailors will be able to choose different headsails and mainsails on race days depending on the wind strength and sea state. The mainsail shape changes dramatically during every maneuver—remember there are two “skins” and each one can be manipulated independently. The mainsail has no boom and is trimmed right down to the deck. The headsail is basically a self-tacking jib. With the apparent wind so far forward there is no need to set a Code Zero or spinnaker. Instead, the crews will have four headsails to choose from on race day. The jib luff is wrapped around the headstay and attached using a zipper, which makes for a clean entry. In the last campaign, I’m told, it took seven weeks to receive a new batten from a commercial supplier. Now, all battens are made in-house using an autoclave and the build window is down to four days.

Spreading the Manpower

Four crew will work from each hull, with no crew shifting sides, as we witnessed in New Zealand during the 2021 match. Tom Slingsby and Paul Goodison are slated to be the helmsmen for American Magic. Both are Olympic gold medalists and veterans of the America’s Cup.  Slingsby was the strategist aboard Oracle Team USA during the amazing comeback in 2013. He has been a standout in the SailGP series. They will serve as tactician when they are not steering. This routine worked well for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in 2021.  The helmsmen steers with a small wheel, which has a series of buttons that control trim. The helmsman has small monitors to see images from the bow and the numbers of a multitude of displays. One crewmember spends time as the flight controller and a fourth crew is the designated trimmer. Four additional crew (two on each side) are strictly cyclists keeping the power flowing. The cyclists do get short rest periods during the race when the power is at full capacity, but the cyclists work with a specific trainer to build their strength and stamina. Olympic Laser sailor and 2006 Intercollegiate Sailor of the Year, Andrew Campbell, is the flight controller. Two Americans, Riley Gibbs and Michael Menninger, have joined the team and are regularly on the water.

The afterguard works closely with the coaching staff.  Veteran Cup sailors and coaches Sean Clarkson and Tom Burnham analyze every function of the day.  They observe on-the-water testing and practice from a coach boat powered by four 450 hp outboard engines. The high-speed tender can attain a speed of 62 knots and can easily pull the AC75 out of the water to get it on its foils when the wind is light.

All the instruments on the raceboat are replicated on the coach boat.  Goodison speaks on a microphone and his voice can be clearly heard by the coaches. There is constant dialog between all parties. The tender operation is impressively efficient. Every action is carefully choreographed so there are no accidents. It is noticeable that everyone is physically fit as they move sails and operate the boat.

Pensacola has proven to be a good venue providing a lot of sailing time—smooth water in the bay and choppier waters out in the Gulf of Mexico help the team test in different wave conditions—but much more is being gleaned in the top-secret simulator. American Magic’s simulator is managed by Anderson Reggio and Brad Gilreath. The steering station replicates the system on the AC75, and here the sailors can spend time racing, practicing maneuvers, working on boatspeed elements, sailing in every conceivable weather condition, practicing starts, watching the screens, instruments, and the wind on the water. Simulators are used effectively by astronauts, aircraft pilots, ship captains, and race car drivers and now these sailors.

I was given the opportunity to spend about 30 minutes in the simulator and worked up a good sweat in the process. It was also great fun and remarkably close to feeling as if I was on the water.

As of this writing every team will be experimenting and training with their AC40 yachts, including American Magic which took possession of theirs after an industrious winter training block concluded in February with Patriot. The lessons learned and information gleaned will be scaled up for the larger seventy five-foot yachts when they are launched late this year. It is difficult to forecast which team will prevail in 2024, but American Magic looks like a stronger team than we watched in 2021.  

The post A Peek Behind the Curtain appeared first on Sailing World.

As the 37th America’s Cup inches closer to the first races of the October 2024 match, the coming months will see accelerated activity the camps of defender and challengers alike, the latter of which has now grown to five with the New Year’s announcement of a French challenge that will compete under the burgee of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez.

The K-Challenge Racing team is led by Stephane Kandler and Bruno Dubois, both veterans of the Cup and professional sailing team management. K-Challenge last campaigned for the Cup in 2007 in Valencia as Areva Challenge, where it was eliminated in the Louis Vuitton Cup’s semifinals.

According to an America’s Cup statement earlier this week, the French challenger was accepted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in 2022, presumably during the “Entry Period,” but the announcement was delayed while the challenger got its house in order. More details regarding the personnel and sponsors are forthcoming. “We have been working behind the scenes for almost a year now and we are going to announce great things by the end of this month,” said Kandler, the team’s CEO.

“It is great to have the French now back in the America’s Cup as the 5th Challenger,” said Grant Dalton, CEO of AC37 Event Limited Grant Dalton, “and one that will no doubt bring a lot of typical character and flair to what is lining up to be a stunning event in Barcelona. France is such a prominent sailing nation but despite this, it is not a small undertaking to get an America’s Cup team up and running so I congratulate Stephane, Bruno and the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez who have been working away tirelessly to get to this point.”

While the four active challengers of Alinghi, INEOS, Luna Rossa and American Magic are well down their sailing and development paths, the French challenger is expected to pull from the talent of the French SailGP squad. As a “New Competitor” under the Protocol, K-Challenge has already missed the opportunity granted to such new teams to sail a Version 1 (legacy) AC75 in 2022 (like Alinghi Red Bull Racing), and with its late entry, the French team would be assigned the last remaining Barcelona base area, located on the outskirts of the port and outside the America’s Cup Village proper.

The original story has been updated to correct an error regarding K-Challenge’s participation in the 2007 America’s Cup in Valencia.

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Press Release issued by American Magic

Nearly a decade ago, Tom Slingsby helped an American team win the most prestigious trophy in sailing, the 34th America’s Cup. In 2024, he hopes to do it again. New York Yacht Club American Magic is pleased to announce it has signed Slingsby, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and multi-class world champion, to its sailing team for its pursuit of the 37th America’s Cup, which will be sailed off Barcelona, Spain, in the Fall of 2024.

“I’m extremely excited to return to the America’s Cup arena,” says Slingsby, 37. “The AC75s are remarkable craft, and I look forward to doing whatever I can to help our team in their quest to bring the trophy back to the United States and the New York Yacht Club. We’ve got world-class talent on board the boat and backing us on the shore, I’m proud and excited to be a part of it.”
New York Yacht Club American Magic was formed in 2018 by principals Hap Fauth, Roger Penske, and Doug DeVos with the intent of winning the oldest trophy in international sports. The team competed in the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. 

Slingsby was a latecomer to competitive sailing, his passion for excellence catching fire while watching the 2000 Olympic Regatta on Sydney Harbour. But he quickly developed into one of the best sailors in the world, winning multiple world championships and an Olympic gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. In the last decade, he’s won major championships in everything from 100-foot supermaxis to singlehanded foiling Moths including being named the 2021 Rolex World Sailor of the Year. He sailed with Oracle Team USA in the 2013 and 2017 America’s Cup matches and won the first two seasons of SailGP as the driver of the Australian Team. He will continue with his role on the Australia SailGP Team.

“People are the most valuable resource for any America’s Cup challenge, and we’re excited to have Tom on our team,” says Terry Hutchinson, Skipper and President of Sailing Operations for NYYC American Magic. “As a previous winner of the America’s Cup, Tom knows what it takes to climb that mountain. He has shown incredible ability in foiling yachts, and his skill and experience will be a tremendous asset for American Magic going forward.”

“Having Tom and Paul Goodison, both Olympic Gold Medalists and world champions, driving our AC75 gives us a great competitive position,” says Hap Fauth. “They are fierce competitors who win at the highest level of sailing. Combine this with the world-class team we are building, and I am thrilled with our prospects.”

Slingsby will look to join the team later this summer in Pensacola, Fla., as the NYYC American Magic sets up its training base and begins working toward a victory in the 37th America’s Cup.

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The New York Yacht Club’s American Magic Challenge, the U.S. sailing team challenging for the 37th America’s Cup, confirmed the core sailing team roster: Tom Burnham, Lucas Calabrese, Andrew Campbell, Riley Gibbs, Paul Goodison, Michael Menninger, and Dan Morris.

Tom Burnham (Newport, R.I.) Tom joins American Magic as Head Coach. Tom has sailed on three America’s Cup teams, Young America, and twice with the Italian Team Luna Rossa. Tom was the head coach of the Swedish America’s Cup Challenger Artemis Racing in the 35^th America’s Cup. Tom sailed with Quantum Racing’s TP52 program for eight years. Tom is also currently the coach for the Australian SailGP team. Tom is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and won the Student Yachting World Cup. In addition to being a professional sailor and sailing coach, Tom is very passionate about the environment and practicing ways to be more sustainable on and off the water.

Lucas Calabrese (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Lucas achieved an Olympic Medal in London 2012 competing in the 470 class. Lucas has won three World Championships: Melges 20 Worlds, J70 Worlds and Optimist Worlds. Lucas was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he moved permanently to the United States seven years ago and became a US citizen. Lucas placed 2^nd at the TP52 Worlds and 2^nd at the Melges 24 Worlds.

Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif.) Andrew returns to American Magic in his third America’s Cup pursuit, this is his second campaign with American Magic and previously was with Oracle Team USA in the 35^th America’s Cup. Andrew is a World Champion Silver Medalist in the Star class. Andrew is a Beijing 2008 Olympian and won a Gold Medal at the 2007 Pan American Games. Andrew is a four time Collegiate All-American, four time National Champion and College Sailor of the Year during his time at Georgetown University. Andrew is a three time US Youth Champion Gold Medalist, and a Youth Laser World Champion.

Riley Gibbs (Long Beach, Calif.) Riley is a versatile sailor and has an impressive resume of successes in a variety of fleets starting at a young age. Riley is on the US Sailing Team and sails with the United States SailGP Team. Riley represented Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the Nacra 17 class, he also competed at the Red Bull Foiling Generation World Finals. Riley won his first regatta at the Junior Sabot Nationals at the age of fourteen, and has since placed top five at three different World Champions: 29er, Formula Kite and Nacra17. Riley is the youngest skipper to win the 505 North Americans.

Paul Goodison MBE (Lake Garda, Italy) will continue with American Magic in the team’s second hunt for the America’s Cup. Paul was a sailing team member with Artemis Racing in the 35^th America’s Cup. Paul has competed in three Olympic Games winning a Gold Medal in Beijing 2008, also he placed fourth in Athens 2004 and 7^th in London 2012. Paul holds six World Championship Titles, including: Halifax Canadian Worlds in the Laser class, Melges 32 World Champion with Samba Pa Ti, Melges 20 World Champion with Samba Pa Ti, and is a three time Moth World Champion. Paul is a five-time Laser European Champion and a Melges 32 European Champion. Paul grew up in Sheffield, Great Britain.

Michael Menninger (Newport Beach, Calif.) Michael is a former helmsman of the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. Michael is a Match Racing World Champion, Team Racing World Champion and Etchells World Champion. Michael has sailed with 11^th Hour Racing Team aboard the Imoca 60 for a transatlantic crossing. Michael sailed for St. Mary’s College of Maryland, he is a three-time All-American, two-time National Champion and twice College Sailor of the Year finalist. Michael is a two-time Governor’s Cup winner.

Dan Morris (Newport, R.I.) Dan returns to American Magic in his second America’s Cup quest. Dan is a Match Racing Tour World Champion, a Transpac Race Winner, and a Middle Sea Race Winner. Dan has been a part of the Red Bull Sailing Team in the Extreme Sailing Series, the United States SailGP Team and participated in the Superfoiler Grand Prix. Dan grew up living and working on boats in Minnesota.

“We are excited to announce this group of talented sailors,” remarked Terry Hutchinson, Skipper, and President of Sailing Operations for American Magic. “Our goal is to win the America’s Cup and bring the trophy back to United States and the New York Yacht Club. We are confident we are putting together a balanced team of experienced America’s Cup sailors with new blood to help American Magic accomplish this goal.”

“The America’s Cup is the pinnacle of the sport of sailing and our team is hungry.” said Tom Burnham, American Magic Head Coach. “The sailors are actively sailing in other events and regattas around the globe. We are currently planning our sailing schedule for the 37^th America’s Cup, per the Rules of the Protocol all of the teams are permitted to start sailing their AC75 this September.”

The complete American Magic sailing team and roles on the boat will be announced at a future date. 

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They were in. They were out. And today the New York YC is—almost—back into the America’s Cup. Last week, the club formally announced its intent to return to America’s Cup competition for the 37th edition—wherever it may be—and is once again aligned with the American Magic sailing team. While it is a requirement of the sponsoring club to submit a challenge on behalf of the team, the timing of this “is a team decision,” says a Club spokesperson. It is understood that an official challenge has not yet been submitted, but the deadline is July 31.  

“We are extremely excited to continue our quest to regain the America’s Cup with American Magic,” said Commodore Paul M. Zabetakis, who is new on the helm at 44th Street and Harbour Court. “Upon receiving the Protocol for the 37th Match, we were pleased to find that it contains elements advocated for by the Club last spring. In addition, the Executive Committee recently received a new proposal from Doug DeVos and Hap Fauth, American Magic principals and Club members, that warranted reconsidering our earlier decision to pause our pursuit of AC37…The lessons learned during our previous campaign, combined with American Magic’s physical and intellectual assets and a commitment to multiple cycles, will ensure this challenge a strong chance to claim sailing’s ultimate prize.”

RELATED: American Magic’s Defiant Unveiled

The club’s “pause” in October 2021 followed past commodore Christopher Culver’s intent to challenge with the Stars+Stripes syndicate, as well as their uncertainty and concerns about not having a confirmed venue or regatta dates.

Culver’s appointment was not renewed, Zabetakis ascended, and committee members regained control of the club’s Cup future, welcoming American Magic team principles Hap Fauth and Doug DeVos back to the table (although, technically, one could say they never left). According to the announcement, Fauth and DeVos “have committed to a campaign for at least two consecutive America’s Cup cycles.”

With American Magic’s assets lying in wait in Auckland, its president of sailing operations and skipper Terry Hutchinson is eager to get the team building, sailing and avoiding further personnel losses—the Alinghi Red Bull Racing challenge has reportedly scooped up key boat builders and shore crew from the American Magic camp.

Patriot, the team’s rebuilt AC75, remains a useful asset, says Hutchinson, and soon enough they’ll be sailing it and developing newer and better control systems. They’ll essentially be able to modify the deck configuration to accommodate the now-allowed self-tacking jib and likely cyclors. “Relative to the last cycle, we’re well along the curve,” Hutchinson said two months ago. “We’re night and day further ahead. We’re talking now about a third-generation AC75, which is awesome, and between Defiant, Patriot and the Mule, that’s roughly 180,000 manhours of boatbuilding and knowledge.”

According to the Protocol, the 37th edition of the America’s Cup will utilize the AC40, which teams will use as development platforms and for pre-Cup scrimmages. They are a big and critical piece in every team’s planning matrix. According to Hutchinson, the delivery of these boats is by order of entry. The New Zealand and British teams are expected to get the first two by late 2022. With Alinghi Red Bull Racing taking the third build slot, American Magic’s AC40 development window is now defined and more limited. However, club and team principals alike, while they await a venue announcement by the end of March, the campaign is well in motion and the intent is clear: to win the darn thing.

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American Magic Back in Action

Mechatronics in the America’s Cup

Confirmed Flight for American Magic

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