American Magic Women Miss Out On Qualifying at Puig Women’s America's Cup
Despite flashes of quality, the American Magic Women’s team fell short of qualifying for the final series at the Puig Women’s America's Cup. Finishing 5th in Group A, the team was unable to secure a spot in the top three needed to progress. While their performance in the final races showed significant improvement, the damage had already been done on the opening day, leaving them with too large a points deficit to overcome.
Over the first four races on Day 1, the American Magic Women demonstrated moments of promise but also made costly errors. Despite their clear potential, the team was left playing catch-up after a day of fifth- and sixth-place finishes. "It wasn’t the start we wanted, but we know there’s a lot more in this team," said Erika Reineke, helm. The team used the time between races to regroup, analyze their performance, and tighten their maneuvers for the remaining races. However, they were facing an uphill battle.
Determined to bounce back, the American Magic Women returned on Race Day 2 with renewed focus. Their third-place finish in the day’s single race showed marked improvement and kept their slim qualifying hopes alive. However, with only one race completed due to weather, there was little time to close the gap to the top teams. "We sailed well today and gave ourselves a chance; we just needed to keep aiming for wins and see if it would be enough to qualify," said Francesca Clapcich, helm.
As light air persisted into Day 3, the team’s chances of qualifying slipped away. With only one race remaining, American Magic was mathematically eliminated from contention. Still, the team showed their fighting spirit, leading Race 6 before it was abandoned due to unstable conditions. In the restart, the team sailed well to finish third, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome. Though they ended the regatta on a higher note, the early mistakes had left them with too much ground to make up.
Finishing 5th in the qualifier series is disappointing for a team that had its sights set on advancing to the finals. However, there were positives to take from their performance, especially their improvement over the final two days. The American Magic Women fought hard and represented the United States, the New York Yacht Club, and American Magic with resilience and pride. Still, this campaign serves as a reminder that there’s no margin for error at this level of competition.
Looking ahead, the team will take the lessons from this regatta and apply them as they continue to grow and develop. Their potential is clear, and with more time together, there’s every reason to believe they’ll come back stronger in future competitions.
NYYC American Magic Crew
Erika Reineke (Helm Starboard)
Louisa Nordstrom (Trimmer Starboard)
Francesca Clapcich (Helm Port)
Sara Stone (Trimmer Port)
