Sunday evening on New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf, with live footage streaming to anxious sailing fans around the globe, American Magic sailors and support crew fought a desperate battle to save PATRIOT, the AC75 the 150-person team spent years designing, building, sailing and refining. On her 44th day of sailing, and her third day of racing in the Prada Cup, PATRIOT sustained major mid-race damage to the port side of the hull and was in real danger of slipping beneath the waves.
Moments earlier, the sleek, blue-hulled AC75 was winning her race against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli with room and style to spare. As soon as a 25-knot rain squall sent PATRIOT flying into the air and then down onto her side, her fate rested in the hands of a tireless coalition of team personnel, America’s Cup competitors, first responders, and many others.
Watch American Magic’s RACE WEEK, Ep.2, to see how it this dramatic mid-Gulf rescue effort unfolded on the racecourse, on the team’s chase boats, and at the team’s base.
