Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

American Magic opens Winter Base at Port of Pensacola

by Will Ricketson 13 Dec 2018 13:59 PST
The Mule, American Magic's 38-foot test boat, sailing in Pensacola, Florida © American Magic

New York Yacht Club American Magic, U.S. Challenger for the 36th America's Cup, today announced that the Port of Pensacola will serve as the team's winter training base in late 2018 and early 2019. The team was formed in 2017 to win the America's Cup, the highest prize in sailing and the oldest trophy in international sports.

Until warmer weather returns to the team's primary training location in Newport, Rhode Island, over a hundred American Magic personnel will sail and support the Mule, the team's advanced 38-foot test boat, on the sunny waters of Pensacola Bay. American Magic's presence represents the first time an America's Cup syndicate has trained on the Gulf Coast of Florida since 1970.

"Pensacola brings a lot to the table for our team," said Terry Hutchinson (Annapolis, Md.), Skipper and Executive Director of American Magic. "Pensacola will give us consistently good sailing weather, a large and protected flat water training venue, efficient logistics and a welcoming community. The Port of Pensacola has been very accommodating as we set up our base, and really stepped up to create an ideal facility for an America's Cup team."

American Magic's first exposure to Pensacola came during July 2018, when Team Principal and CEO Hap Fauth (Naples, Fla.) and team sailors Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.) and Caleb Paine (San Diego, Calif.) gave an America's Cup presentation to over five hundred junior sailors, coaches and families at the Optimist U.S. National Championship hosted by Pensacola Yacht Club.

"We're excited and grateful that Pensacola Yacht Club and the local sailing community have embraced American Magic and extended their hospitality since our first visit," said Hutchinson, a sixteen-time sailing world champion. "Pensacola Bay is a world-class sailing venue, and hopefully our time here will help raise awareness of just how great it is to race and train in this region of the U.S."

"Having American Magic training here for the winter not only provides the Port of Pensacola with a unique new customer, but shines a worldwide spotlight on the amazing natural sailing venue that is Pensacola Bay," said Port Director Amy Miller. "Our hope is that we can work with tourism officials and our local sailing community to leverage this exposure and attract more training and competition venue opportunities in the future."

The Port of Pensacola features world-class facilities and a convenient location. Port assets include a wide and deep channel, thousands of feet of dockage, extensive indoor and outdoor storage, direct rail access, a full range of cargo handling equipment and an experienced staff.

The 36th America's Cup match will take place in Auckland New Zealand, in March 2021. Prior to the America's Cup, American Magic will compete in several America's Cup World Series events and the Prada Cup, the Challenger selection finals. The Challenger who wins the Prada Cup in early 2021 will earn for the right to face the current Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, in the America's Cup match.

americanmagic.americascup.com

Related Articles

America's Cup: Luna Rossa sail two AC40s
Luna Rossa Youth and Womens team sail two AC40s marking the anniversary of their 2024 wins The Italian Challenger Luna Rossa has opened its account in the 2027 America's Cup, sailing two AC40s from the team's permanent base in Cagliari, Sardinia. The occasion was a celebration of their wins in the Youth and Womens America's Cups Posted on 1 Oct
SailGP and America's Cup on collision course
Serious schedule clashes ahead as a group of professional sailors try to serve two masters. "This America's Cup has to be their #1 priority. Frankly, as far as I am concerned, it's the only priority", Emirates Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton on pro sailors wanting to compete in SailGP as well as the America's Cup. Posted on 26 Sep
America's Cup: Ray Davies scouts Naples
Ray Davies of Emirates Team New Zealand recently made a vibrant stop in Naples, Italy Ray Davies of Emirates Team New Zealand recently made a "vibrant" stop in Naples, Italy, ahead of the upcoming Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup, and was left in awe of both the city and its sailing conditions. Posted on 25 Sep
America's Cup: Controversial agreement signed
According to Italian media, the secret AC Partnership agreement has been signed by CoR/D* International sailing journalist, Fabio Pozo, writing for the Milan based newspaper La Stampa, reports that the secret America's Cup Partnership (ACP) agreement is expected to be signed next week. Posted on 21 Sep
America's Cup: Vision for the Naples unveiled
Emirates Team NZ and Sport e Salute unveiled the vision for the America's Cup in Naples in 2027. Emirates Team NZ and Sport e Salute, the publicly-owned Italian company responsible for promoting sports and a healthy lifestyle across the nation, unveiled the vision for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup in Naples in 2027. Posted on 20 Sep
Womens America's Cup opportunities expand
the pathway for female athletes has never been stronger than in the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup 2024 and the inaugural Puig Women's America's Cup was announced following the publication of the Protocol for the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona. It was a moment not only for women's sport and equality but showed that the America's Cup was Posted on 19 Sep
America's Cup: The Elephant(s) in the Room
Some shafts of light have been shed on the negotiation positions of the Challengers and Defender. With nearly 250 pages of America's Cup regulations released, it's clear both the Challenger and Defender have ben forced to take a pragmatic stance on the Naples Cup. Some shafts of light have been shed on the positions of the Challengers and Defender. Posted on 18 Sep
America's Cup: Luna Rossa's Challenge accepted
According to local media the Italian team, Luna Rossa has had its Challenge accepted by the Kiwis. Leading America's Cup journalist, Fabio Pozzo, reports that the Italian team, Luna Rossa has had its Challenge accepted for the 2027 Cup in Naples. Posted on 12 Sep
America's Cup: ETNZ's design boss on new AC75 Rule
Kiwi design chief, Dan Bernasconi on recycled AC75 hulls, electric power and other rule changes. Kiwi design chief, Dan Bernasconi on the use of recycled AC75 hulls, the switch to full electric power, and other changes. He claims there is plenty of performance gain left in the AC75 for the designer teams. Posted on 12 Sep
America's Cup: Class Rule and Tech Regs out
The America's Cup Class Rule and Technical Regulations for the Naples Match have been published With the clock ticking down to the start of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup in Naples in 2027, the AC75 Class Rules and Technical Regulations have been issued to all teams and published with a focus on cost containment. Posted on 11 Sep
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignRooster 2025Selden 2020 - FOOTER