ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) – The New York Yacht Club’s American Magic sailing team has officially returned to Pensacola Bay.
The team is training for the 37th America’s Cup, an international match in Barcelona, Spain, which will take place in 2024.
This year marks the team’s third in Pensacola.
“Pensacola turned out to be the perfect location. The bay here or the Gulf of Mexico presents different challenges for the team, whether it’s really flat water or a bit of sea state, and our boats are a foiling monohull so that we were flying above the water,” said Terry Hutchinson, Skipper and President of Operations for American Magic. “I don’t think there is any other place in the country that is better to do what we do”
The America’s Cup is one of the most prestigious sailing competitions in the world and operates similarly to the Olympic Games, with the Cup taking place every 4 years. But unlike the Olympics, there are no competitions between games.
“It’s one of those competitions that over time is very, very hard to win, and when you win, you write the rules and you kind of control the competition,” Hutchinson said.
The team is constantly testing and developing to get their AC75 yacht through the water faster.
Many team members have moved to the city, but about ten percent of the team are local Pensacolians who have joined.
American Magic hopes to make Pensacola its permanent winter training location.
“The principles of our team have a longer term vision of being a long-time partner within the community and truly being part of the family here.
Hutchinson, the community of Pensacola has been very welcoming to sailors.
American Magic will train in Pensacola until next summer when they will move to Barcelona to prepare for the America’s Cup.
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