Louis Vuitton Round Robin Day 6: American Magic Splits Results with a Win and a Loss

Race 18: NYYC American Magic vs INEOS Britannia

In a high-pressure, light-wind battle on Day 6 of the Louis Vuitton Cup, NYYC American Magic faced off against INEOS Britannia in the first race of the day. With both teams fighting to stay on their foils in borderline conditions, American Magic made a perfect start, crossing the line first. Despite tricky winds, the American team forced INEOS into an early tack and built a strong lead. A boundary penalty on INEOS further helped American Magic, who rounded the top gate with a 20-second advantage.

American Magic extended their lead to 29 seconds on the downwind leg with some smooth maneuvers, but INEOS Britannia fought back. Despite closing the gap to 9 seconds by the fourth gate, INEOS couldn’t overcome American Magic’s strong performance. After a tense, back-and-forth race filled with lead changes, American Magic regained control in the final leg, crossing the finish line 13 seconds ahead for a well-earned victory.

Paul Goodison reflected: “We needed that. It wasn’t pretty, but we got it done.”

This victory continued American Magic’s strong momentum in the Louis Vuitton Cup, but the team knew there was more to do with another race ahead.

Race 20: Alinghi Red Bull Racing vs NYYC American Magic

In the second race of the day, American Magic took on Alinghi Red Bull Racing (ARBR) in what turned out to be a challenging match. Drama unfolded right at the start, as Alinghi briefly fell off the foils but recovered just in time. American Magic, however, incurred a penalty for an early entry, leaving them 75 meters behind as the race began.

On the first upwind leg, American Magic showed good speed and closed the gap to 10 seconds by the first mark. However, they lost time on the downwind leg, rounding 14 seconds behind Alinghi. Despite solid communication between Tom Slingsby and Paul Goodison, American Magic struggled with consistent pressure throughout the race, allowing Alinghi to defend their lead.

By the halfway point, Alinghi extended their advantage to 23 seconds. American Magic experienced a touchdown and encountered power issues, making it difficult to regain ground. Despite their efforts, American Magic couldn’t close the gap, and Alinghi sailed consistently to take the win by 38 seconds.

American Magic now has a 3-4 record in the Louis Vuitton Round Robin Series. The team will aim to bounce back in its final point scoring races against Luna Rossa and the Orient Express Racing Team.