America's Cup: US Team Almost Down, Round Robin Canceled

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America's Cup: US Team Almost Down, Round Robin Canceled
America's Cup: US Team Almost Down, Round Robin Canceled

Video: America's Cup: US Team Almost Down, Round Robin Canceled

Video: America's Cup: US Team Almost Down, Round Robin Canceled
Video: American Magic AC75 Capsize! Full story+aftermath of Prada Cup Day 3. #AmericasCup. 2024, March
Anonim

Yesterday the American Magic team capsized spectacularly in its race against LunRossan of the windward brand. When dropping onto the downwind course, the boat hit a gust at about 48 knots. In the video you can see that the leeward backstay was not released, the main sail obviously could not be opened far enough. The crew lost control, the boat leaned heavily to leeward, first lifted completely out of the water and then crashed back onto its leeward side, capsizing to port.

The capsizing of American Magic

Until then, everything looked "normal", if that can be said of capsizing at all. And the team didn't have to worry at first either. "We overturned our training boat 19 times," said team skipper Terry Hutchinson later. And the other capsizing observed so far, such as by Team New Zealand, initially had no cause for concern. "The boats usually float very high. If you get them so far that the wind can reach under the mainsail, they'll straighten up on their own." Not so with the American boat "Patriot". It sank deeper and deeper into the water.

America's Cup
America's Cup

Terry Hutchinson, American Magic skipper

"We knew immediately that something was wrong," said Hutchinson. “When I got out of my cockpit, we were deeper in the water than we should. The 'pop-up' didn't happen. So that was the first clue. Boat captain Tyson Lamond came through the communication and said, 'I think there is a hole in the boat. '"An inspection confirmed that the boat had a large hole on the port side and was making water.

America's Cup
America's Cup

In the hull of "Pariot" there is a large hole on the port side

Hutchinson explains how the leak came about as follows: "There is a transverse structure inside the boat and a longitudinal structure. When the boat hits the water, it is okay if it hits the keel flat. But if you open it the side lands on the flat part of the fuselage, the structure is not designed for that."

For the next few hours, the team struggled to keep the boat buoyant. Hutchinson thanked the other teams and the organizers very emotionally for the immediate and extensive help with pumps and floats. After two and a half hours it was possible to stabilize the boat and because of the location of the leak it had to be towed backwards at two to three knots into the harbor. Six hours after capsizing, it was safely on land.

America's Cup
America's Cup

All teams help to save "Patriot" from ruin

Stressful days now begin for the team. After assessing the full extent of the boat damage, Hutchinson was confident that he would be able to sail again soon. So the boat is not irreparably destroyed. The hydraulics suffered only minor damage, but the condition of the boat's electronics was questionable. Fortunately, the syndicate had already brought all the spare parts from the US to Auckland beforehand. Hutchinson estimated the repairs would take ten days. He also confirmed that American Magic would not be able to sail the 3rd and 4th rounds of the Robin Robins next weekend. The goal is to be back at the start for the PradCup semi-finals on January 29th, preferably a few days beforehand. "I would like to sail again before the semi-finals and not straight into it," said Hutchinson. In the semifinals, the two losing teams of the Round Robins sail for second place in the final, the winner moves straight to the final.

America's Cup
America's Cup

When it gets dark, "Patriot" is towed into the harbor

For the American team, capsizing does not change anything in terms of qualification. Because the British are already leading with 4-0 points. At the time of capsizing, American magic was well ahead of LunRossa, but a victory in this race would have resulted in only one point in the overall standings for both teams. So it was quite likely that the British would emerge victorious from the Round Robins and that LunRoss would sail the semifinals against American Magic.

How the race management will deal with this changed situation is still open. If she stays with the previous planning, only LunRoss and Ineos Team UK would be able to compete next weekend and sail two races against each other. The British already have four points in their account, including two wins against the Italians, they only need one win to make it to the final of the PradCup. Or the Italians win twice against the British, then there would have to be a playoff.

But the organizers and especially sponsors shouldn't like this scenario. Because there are only three challengers anyway, the qualification was stretched by means of a lengthy and unusual elimination mode, also in order to generate more airtime. Instead of a three-day round 3 and 4 with two races each on the weekend, everything could now be over after just one race.

So it cannot be ruled out that a postponement of qualifications will be considered. That, in turn, shouldn't please the British, because with a victory in the Round Robins they could secure a break from racing of almost three weeks until the final of the PradCup, which could be used for updates on the boat.

Photo gallery: The capsizing of the PATRIOT, Team American Magic

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