With NYYC American topping the final series standings after a simply stunning day at Vilanova i La Geltrú where they took their chances, front-ran like demons and sailed incredibly smoothly, it was all-on for the Match Race Grand Final against Emirates Team New Zealand. The Kiwis had been the team to beat all regatta. Their speed and execution of manoeuvres were widely viewed as the blueprint for AC40 sailing, and in foiling conditions, these two outstanding syndicates of the 37th America’s Cup would have been hard to split.
Unfortunately, with the seconds ticking down on the start, the wind shut down, and the first Emirates Team New Zealand splashed down to displacement, quickly followed by NYYC American Magic. Indeed, the Kiwis struggled even to start correctly, copping a number of penalties, but as both boats headed upwind, the battle was against the clock.
With a ten-minute time limit to reach the first gate and with the crews desperately trying every trick to try and coax their boat up on the foils, speeds dropped to around 5-7 knots, and the flow wouldn’t stick.
Having come into the final day of the first Preliminary Regatta of the 37th America’s Cup in Vilanova i La Geltrú sitting in fifth place, it was an outside bet at best that NYYC American Magic could climb the leaderboard and challenge for a spot in the Match Race Grand Final
The only option for the Race Committee was to abandon the Match Race Grand Final and thereby award the first Preliminary Regatta of the 37th America’s Cup to New York Yacht Club American Magic.
