Please select your home edition
Edition
Vaikobi 2024 December

America's Cup: Patriot remains defiant in the Prada Cup

by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 17 Jan 2021 18:39 PST 18 January 2021
American Magic base - Auckland - January 18, 2021 - America's Cup 36 © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com

American Magic Executive Director Terry Hutchinson has confirmed that the team will remain in the Prada Cup, after nearly sinking their raceboat Patriot yesterday evening in Auckland.

The incident occurred just after 6.00pm rounding the final mark in Race 3 of Round Robin 2, of the Prada Cup.

The team's AC75 was leading Italian challenger Luna Rossa, when Patriot was flicked by a rain squall during the rounding manoeuvre. Hutchinson said the wind increased from 12kts to 23kts in just 40s; the boat accelerated as it bore away in rounding the mark, to 47kts of boatspeed.

The team were chasing their first race win in the challenger selection series, having started the regatta as favorite to take on defender Emirates Team New Zealand in the America's Cup, starting on March 6, 2021.

"There was a truckload of wind coming down the course and we wanted to be in it," Hutchinson told a media conference in Auckland on Monday afternoon. He said that the breeze had varied between 9-23kts in the race. Afterguard member Paul Goodison called a light spot in the breeze as Patriot closed in on the mark. In previous races the AC75s have been unable to foil when the wind pressure drops, and Hutchinson indicated the need to stay with the breeze was vital if they were to stay ahead of competitor Luna Rossa.

A series of issues combined to work against the crew in the manoeuvre, with the AC75 being caught in the rain squall, with the mainsail hard against a running backstay and the main traveller fully eased. Hutchinson said they were unable to release the pressure in the already fully-eased sail, triggering the "sky-jump" as the AC75 leapt clear of the water after the rudder elevator ventilated.

Hutchinson said the hole in Patriot's hull was caused by impact damage due to the acceleration, speed and height from which the AC75 fell back into the water. The team had capsized their test boat "The Mule" 39 times and their first AC75, Defiant, once, all without damage.

Emirates Team New Zealand have capsized AC75s at least three times - all without damage, the last occasion being two weeks ago during practice racing. All the other teams have performed other spectacular manoeuvres in their AC75s - all without damage, however none reached the height above the water achieved by Patriot, on Sunday evening.

The AC75 was righted by the team, but it was only after the initiation of a crisis plan as part of the event management that the yacht was saved from sinking. Emirates Team New Zealand was first on the scene with flotation devices which gave the team and other rescuers time to bring specialist equipment including 23 pumps.

After a slow tow, the yacht was hauled from the water late last night and a damage assessment begun. That process has involved a complete ultrasound of the hull. Hutchinson says the repairs are expected to take 8-10 days and will involve mainly structural repairs to the hull and complete replacement of the yachts electronic systems including the foil cant system.

The team's first AC75, Defiant, was shipped to Auckland and was sailing in July 2020 before being decommissioned when Patriot was launched in early October 2020.

Hutchinson says that Defiant will be used to provide some replacement parts for Patriot. That could include having a hull section cut from Defiant and transplanted into the damaged area of Patriot. Hutchinson didn't reveal the size of the cut-out to be made, however from initial photos, as well as the hole in the hull, carbon shards could be seen hanging from other areas of the hull indicating that the hull damage is a lot larger than indicated in the photos.

The incident will mean that Patriot will go straight through to the Semi-Finals of the Prada Cup. A sudden improvement in performance of INEOS Team UK sees them score four wins from four races, and look to be a shoe-in for the first position in the Prada Cup Finals.

The other two positions are likely to be determined between Italian Luna Rossa and American Magic, however it has not been announced if there is to be any change in the format of the remaining two Round Robins, given that American Magic will default their matches.

Later today Sail-World will post an eye-witness account of the capsize and near sinking of Patriot, along with photos of the multi-team recovery effort.

Related Articles

America's Cup - #3 Finish Line
The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. Step into the last leg. This is where legends break — or rise. Posted on 23 Jun
Cup Spy: "Burling Rule" unlikely to be changed
The Defender is unlikely to soften the Rules and allow open season on its sailing team. Despite the shift of three times America's Cup winner, Peter Burling it is understood that there is unlikely to be any softening of the Nationality rule to enable Burling to get any closer to the action than a chase-boat in the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 20 Jun
Burling "excited' by Italian move
In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role w In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role with Black Foils, the New Zealand SailGP Team. Posted on 20 Jun
America's Cup: Kiwis advertising for key people
Emirates Team NZ seeking new people for key roles ahead of its 12th America's Cup campaign Emirates Team New Zealand, the current America's Cup champion is gearing up for the 2027 Defence of the most prestigious trophy in sailing. The team has advertised eight positions in the IT, Meteorology and Engineering areas Posted on 12 Jun
America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup fillibustered by Challengers
A Cup in turmoil - Protocol is unsigned - with entries due to open on Sunday. Updated story: America's Cup got underway in Rome on Monday, with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. However three teams are working in collusion and have again issued statements within minutes of each other. Posted on 29 May
America's Cup enthusiastically received in Naples
The Castel dell'Ovo, was the venue for the arrival of the America's Cup in Napes The Castel dell'Ovo, set on the tuft peninsula of Megaride was the outstanding setting for the Official Host Venue Presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 28 May
Italian PM welcomes America's Cup in Rome
Prime Minister Meloni set out a bold vision for the regeneration planned around AC38 The magnificent setting of the Casino del Bel Respiro, commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1644, in the grounds of Villa Pamphilj, was the outstanding and historic setting for the formal presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 26 May
America's Cup: Big changes in crew line-up
Women and Youth crews to sail in AC75 in the next Cup - Final Draft of AC38 Protocol Historic changes are proposed in the Final Draft of the Protocol released by the America's Cup Defender. For the first time a Female and Youth crew members will be part of the six-crew lineup on board the all-electric AC75s. Posted on 23 May
America's Cup: The Blitz of Statements
Various parties associated with the America's Cup released statements calling for more transparency Various parties associated with the America's Cup released statements calling for more transparency in the America's Cup. Emirates Team New Zealand responded by releasing what is tagged as the Final Draft of the Protocol. Posted on 23 May
Selden 2020 - FOOTERRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERPalm Beach Motor Yachts