What Happened to American Magic in Prada Cup?

The Prada Cup was supposed to be the moment of glory for American Magic, the team representing the New York Yacht Club in the America’s Cup. Yet, it turned out to be a nightmare that ended in a stunning defeat. The question is, what happened to American Magic in Prada Cup?

The Build-Up

American Magic had high hopes for the Prada Cup. They had invested millions of dollars in their AC75 yacht named “Patriot.” They had also recruited some of the best sailors in the world, including Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, who had won gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The team’s preparations seemed to be going well. During practice races before Christmas, Patriot looked fast and stable on its foils. As a result, many experts predicted that American Magic would be one of the top contenders.

The Early Races

However, things started to go wrong for American Magic early on in the Prada Cup. In their first race against Italy’s Luna Rossa, Patriot struggled to get up on its foils and lost by over seven minutes. The team blamed technical issues with their boat and said they would fix them before their next race.

In their second race against INEOS Team UK, Patriot performed better but still lost by over a minute. Again, American Magic blamed technical issues with their boat and said they would make further improvements.

The Crash

It was during their third race against Luna Rossa that disaster struck for American Magic. In strong winds and rough seas, Patriot crashed into the water while rounding a mark. The force of impact caused significant damage to the boat, including a hole in its hull.

Amazingly, none of the crew members were injured in the crash. However, Patriot was unable to continue racing until repairs were made.

The Comeback?

American Magic worked around the clock to repair Patriot in time for their next race against INEOS Team UK. The team managed to get the boat back on the water, but it was clear that it was not performing at its best.

In the end, INEOS Team UK won by over three minutes, knocking American Magic out of the Prada Cup and ending their dreams of competing in the America’s Cup.

Conclusion

So, what happened to American Magic in Prada Cup? It seems that a combination of technical issues with their boat and bad luck contributed to their downfall. While they had a strong team and a fast boat on paper, they were unable to deliver when it mattered most.

Ultimately, the America’s Cup is a high-stakes competition where even the smallest mistake can be costly. American Magic will have to regroup and hope for better luck in future competitions.