A re-match from 1851
Round Robin 1, race 3
29 August 2024, day one
This is shaping up for a good match. I’m picking American Magic to win, but not counting on it…
Oh no! American Magic is suddenly beset in light air coming in to the gybe just before entering the start and falls off the foils. I really should not be allowed to make predictions.
That’s handed the start to UK. Off they go. American Magic eventually finds its wings, then has to shed its prestart penalty and starts with a deficit of 700m. But I’m not giving up yet. Light airs are shifty and offer passing lanes.
Coming into gate one, the breeze is soft at the top mark. The delta is 1.06 – more than a minute, which is like an hour in AC75 world.
Coming into gate two, the delta is 1:02, so no gain really.
There are definitely two different design philosophies in play here. Ineos Britannia has quite aggressive lines; helmsmen and crew are lined up fore and aft, and she has a big bustle underneath. USA has the lovely sleeker styling which reflects her Patriot lineage; the helmsmen and flight controllers are side by side and the cyclors are in recumbent position.
Coming into gate 3, Ineos still ahead and USA almost does another sit-down. The delta is just on the south side of one minute – as in, 59 seconds.
Gate 5, it’s very light; USA has taken a chunk out of the lead but they are running out of runway. In the flukey breeze, American Magic makes a big gain as Ineos Britannia sits down and the final delta is 14 seconds.
Tom Slingsby on American Magic: ‘We almost got back to them there but we just ran out of time.’
Photo credit: Ian Roman, America's Cup
© Rebecca Hayter
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