LIVE: American Magic Wins a Thrilling Battle Against INEOS Britannia

LIVE: Louis Vuitton Cup: Round Robins, Race Day 5, Race 18

Race 18: NYYC American Magic (Port entry) vs INEOS Britannia (Starboard entry)

On the sixth day of Louis Vuitton Cup round-robin racing, in their first race of the day, NYYC American Magic took on INEOS Britannia in a high-pressure, light-wind showdown. With critical conditions at play, every decision and maneuver mattered.

Light air at the start created a delicate and critical entry for both teams, with borderline winds testing their ability to stay on the foils. Despite the challenging conditions, American Magic executed a perfect start, crossing the line first. INEOS Britannia managed to stay on the foils, but the breeze remained soft as the teams began racing.

American Magic wasted no time applying pressure, forcing INEOS Britannia into an early tack and building a lead on the first upwind leg. A boundary penalty against INEOS further increased the gap, and American Magic capitalized on their advantage, rounding the top gate 20 seconds ahead of their rivals.

Though the conditions remained tricky, American Magic extended their lead to 29 seconds with a smooth downwind leg and a clean rounding of the second mark. A slight wobble didn’t deter the US crew, as they maintained control and composure.

The light winds continued to challenge both teams, requiring immense effort from American Magic’s cyclors to generate the power needed to stay competitive. Despite gains made by INEOS Britannia, American Magic still held a 16-second lead at the top gate, setting up for another close leg.

With the race tightening, INEOS Britannia found some high pressure and went gybe-for-gybe with American Magic on the downwind. The US crew saw their lead reduced to just 9 seconds at the fourth gate, keeping the race alive and setting up a dramatic finish.

The fifth leg delivered high drama as split tacks and narrowing margins put both teams under immense pressure. INEOS Britannia continued to close the gap, with American Magic rounding the final gate only 1 second ahead. A costly touchdown by American Magic as they rounded the mark gave INEOS Britannia the lead momentarily, but the US team recovered quickly to keep themselves in the race.

In an intense final leg, INEOS Britannia looked poised to take control, but a slight wobble opened the door for American Magic. Seizing the opportunity, the US crew regained their composure, held their lead, and crossed the finish line 13 seconds ahead of INEOS Britannia, securing a hard-fought victory.

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

This thrilling race keeps American Magic’s momentum alive as they continue their quest in the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Series.