In regatta crescendo, Emirates Team New Zealand (NZ) faced off against NYYC American Magic (USA) in what was the final race for the Kiwis until the America’s Cup proper begins in mid-October. While the outcome of the race would not affect the standings, both teams were keen to end on a high note, with Team New Zealand aiming to finish strong before their break, and American Magic hoping to make a statement.
The race began with drama at the start line, as American Magic were penalised for falling off their foils and arriving late to the course. This error forced them to drop back 75 metres, instantly giving New Zealand a commanding lead. By the time the teams were a quarter of the way through the first leg, NZ had already extended their lead to 150 metres.
Despite the American team’s penalty and the fact that they wouldn’t gain points even if they won, American Magic refused to give up. As they approached Gate 1, they closed the gap to just 50 metres. However, Team New Zealand stayed composed and passed through the first gate at 3:58, with American Magic following closely behind, only seven seconds later.
It looked like American Magic were poised to mount a comeback, but the short supply of wind made it challenging for them to stay on their foils consistently. As New Zealand entered Leg 2, their lead began to grow again. Halfway through the leg, they were 250 metres ahead of the Americans, both boats travelling at a blistering 35 knots. By the time they reached Gate 2, New Zealand had crossed at 7:41, while American Magic followed 31 seconds later. In that time, the Americans had dropped back by 24 seconds, widening the gap.
Throughout the third leg, Team New Zealand continued to extend their lead, displaying a flawless performance as they maintained control of the race. Despite American Magic’s best efforts to catch up, they remained 250 metres behind halfway through the leg. By Gate 3, New Zealand had clocked in at 11:44m, with the Americans following 22 seconds later, making up some ground but not enough to seriously challenge the leaders.
New Zealand increased their lead to 350 metres by the midway point of Leg 4, as American Magic struggled to keep up. The Kiwis flew through Gate 4 at 15:03, with the Americans slowing down significantly, taking an additional 1 minute and 21 seconds to pass through the same gate. Their struggles were compounded by a necessary loop manoeuvre to stay on their foils.
By Leg 5, New Zealand had an enormous 700-metre lead, and as they passed through the final gate at 19:41, the race was effectively over. American Magic, struggling to maintain their pace, crossed the final gate a staggering 2 minutes and 22 seconds after the Kiwis.
In the end, Emirates Team New Zealand crossed the finish line at 22:25, securing a dominant victory. American Magic finished 2 minutes and 37 seconds later, unable to overcome their earlier mistakes and the tricky conditions.
While this race didn’t have any bearing on the overall standings, it was a critical confidence boost for Team New Zealand, who won’t race again until the America’s Cup proper begins next month. Their performance was a masterclass in sailing, demonstrating why they remain the top contender in this prestigious competition. American Magic will now move on to the next phase of racing, needing to improve on today’s result.
This victory marks the end of New Zealand’s challenger races, but they’ve left no doubt that they’ll be a force to reckon with when they return to the water in October.
