Photo by Will Ricketson
AMERICAN MAGIC SETS SAIL IN PENSACOLA by Nicole Willis
The New York Yacht Club’s American Magic racing team has returned to the Port of Pensacola to begin their annual training for the 37th America’s Cup, to take place in Barcelona, Spain in 2024. This year will mark the third winter that the American Magic sailing team has spent training along the Gulf Coast.
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or those who may be unfamiliar with the America’s Cup and its significance, the race essentially serves as the Super Bowl of the sailing community. Yacht clubs from across the world participate by competing in a race to take home the oldest trophy in international sport, the America’s Cup. The competition dates back to 1851, which is before the modern Olympic Games began. Led by President of Sailing Operations and Skipper Terry Hutchinson, American Magic will train in Pensacola for the duration of the winter season aboard their boat, the Patriot. Patriot is an AC75 racing yacht, with a 68-foot-long hull and t-shaped foils that allow the boat to reach top speeds. According to Hutchinson, Pensacola’s waterways are ideal for training. “The sailing conditions in Pensacola Bay are perfect for developing the AC75. The team has the choice to train in the Bay
or outside in the Gulf, providing a variety of conditions and sea states to advance and build our highperformance race boat. Coupled with the local community support, this makes Pensacola the ideal U.S. training venue,” Hutchinson said. This year is not the first time that the American Magic team has trained on the Gulf Coast. The team also spent time training in Gulf waters in 2018, 2019 and 2020. In 2019 and 2020, the team trained for the most recent America’s Cup, AC36 (the 36th America’s Cup), which was held in New Zealand last year. Patriot made the trek from New Zealand to Pensacola this past June. Pensacola is an optimal training destination for sailors due to its diverse environmental conditions. “The 37th America’s Cup is set to take place in Barcelona, Spain. Pensacola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico will provide NYYC American Magic with similar
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