Barcelona, 24 August 2024 — In the first race of the day (well, our night), which commenced at 12:10 AM (NZT), NYCC American Magic (whose headquarters are normally in Newport, Rhode Island) claimed a decisive victory against the Swiss Alinghi Red Bull team, showcasing superior speed and strategy throughout the race.
American Magic maxed their speed at 46kn, Alinghi Red Bull reached a max of 44, this stat alone defines the whole race in a single set of numbers.
The race kicked off with American Magic taking an early lead, setting the tone for what would be a challenging event for the Swiss. From the outset, Alinghi encountered difficulties, struggling to keep pace with the American team. Two minutes and sixteen seconds into the race, American Magic was already approaching the first gate, maintaining a commanding lead, while Alinghi Red Bull trailed closely but could not overtake.
As the boats raced down the second length, American Magic extended their lead to 200 metres by the 4 minute mark, further solidifying their dominance. By five minutes and thirty seconds, the USA team had widened the gap, pulling ahead of the struggling Alinghi Red Bull. American Magic’s advantage became even more apparent as they crossed the bottom turn at six minutes and thirty seconds, seamlessly transitioning into the third sprint.
American Magic continued to showcase their prowess, reaching the top turn and entering the fourth leg at ten minutes and forty-five seconds—a swift manoeuvre that left Alinghi lagging further behind. By eleven minutes, the Alinghi Red Bull team had turned the top loop, but the 23-second deficit between the teams was already telling.
As the race progressed, American Magic continued to excel. By fourteen minutes, they were speeding into the fifth leg at an impressive 45 knots, executing a clean turn out of Gate 4. In contrast, Alinghi Red Bull struggled, reaching the bend and entering leg four with a 36-second deficit, a gap that only grew wider as the race continued.
A short time later there was a 500-metre chasm separating the two teams, with American Magic cruising effortlessly towards victory. Both teams averaged 30 knots in a modest 10-knot wind on this round of the circuit, but the American boat’s superior handling and speed gave them an unassailable advantage. The advantage was in manoeuvring, tacking resulted in a massive impacts on speed.
As American Magic entered the final leg at seventeen minutes, they accelerated back to 45 knots, Alinghi Red Bull was notably absent. It wasn’t until nineteen minutes and forty-six seconds that Alinghi Red Bull finally entered their final lap, far behind the American Magic.
At twenty-two minutes and forty seconds, American Magic crossed the finish line, securing a spectacular victory against the disappointing Alinghi Red Bull, who were still one kilometre behind. The Alinghi Red Bull boat eventually crossed the finish line at twenty-three minutes and thirty-six seconds, a full minute after the American Magic victors—a disheartening end to a race that highlighted the gulf in performance between the teams.
This race underscored American Magic’s dominance, leaving their competitors, particularly the Alinghi Red Bull team, with much to contemplate as they prepare for future challenges on the water.
