American Magic will Challenge for the 37th America’s Cup

The Trustees of the New York Yacht Club have approved the challenge for the 37th America’s Cup edition, competing with American Magic against the other challengers and the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand.  

“We are extremely excited to continue our quest to regain the America’s Cup with American Magic,” -Paul M. Zabetakis, M.D, Commodore of the New York Yacht Club. 

The New York Yacht Club was the one that created the America’s Cup and successfully defended it 25 times before losing it to Australia II and the Royal Perth Yacht Club in 1983. The latest action ended quickly when the team left the challenge during the Prada Cup Challenger Selection Series in Auckland 2021. 

You might find interesting: Watch the highlights of the PRADA Cup. 

American Magic plans on preparing well to compete in AC37 as they reflect on their experience from the AC36 campaign. The team has now started preparations to assemble an elite team that continues to develop talent across all areas of sailing and business operations. 

“We intend to compete in AC37 and are hungry and highly motivated to be the most innovative team on and off the water. We are proud of how the team rebounded during AC36, but we have unfinished business…” -Hap Fauth, Principal for American Magic. 

What happened during the AC36

The PRADA Cup is the competition where the Challenger team of these flying foiling monohulls is decided. Last year, American Magic competed against INEOS Team UK and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. While INEOS Team UK won the round robins and automatically moved towards the final of the PRADA Cup, American Magic and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli had to battle it out in the semifinal. 

However, American Magic did not stand a chance in these preliminary regattas as they lost all the races in the semifinal. INEOS Team UK and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli faced each other during the final, and at the end the Italian race crew became the Cup winner. 

However, during the America’s Cup the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand won their seven cup matches while the Italian team earned three victories. Therefore, New Zealand successfully defended their title in the Prada Cup Series and the America’s Cup. 

You will find interesting: Watching the highlights of the 36th America’s Cup competition. 

The other challengers

So far, American Magic joins four other challengers that will battle for the AC37. They are joined by the Challenger of Record, INEOS Team Britannia, the famous Alinghi Red Bull Racing and once again by Luna Rossa. 

While Luna Rossa was the Challenger of last year’s edition, Alinghi Red Bull Racing have a strong story in the America’s Cup after winning the 31st and 32nd America’s Cup. Also, the sailing team has won seven times the Bol D’Or and has been proclaimed GC32 World Champion in 2019 and 2021. Now,  they are aiming once again for the toughest competition: the America’s Cup. 

Moreover, both INEOS Team UK and Luna Rossa have recent experience with the America’s Cup and with the current Defenders Emirates Team New Zealand. Therefore, they are more motivated than ever to outperform themselves in the next edition. 

Related article: Possible venues for the AC37

Eagerness for the next edition

Discussions regarding the next challenge started after Emirates Team New Zealand defended the Cup last year in March 2021. However, it took a brief hiatus due to lack of clarity regarding rules, timing and venue. Now, the New York Yacht Club members have regained the desire to have American Magic back for at least two consecutive America’s Cup cycles. 

Winning remains the primary goal, but the Club has other objectives like developing America’s youth sailing talent and increasing diversity within the sport. Moreover, according to Zabetakis, they will continue to push for changes to the structure of the competition in order to make it more accessible to challengers, fans and partners. 

The Club is eagerly awaiting the announcement of the venue and race schedule for AC37, as well as the details for the America’s Cup World Series and the plans for the youth and women’s events. It is expected the venue announcement will be made on March 31, 2022. 

Image credit to America's Cup webpage.