The New York Yacht Club has been chasing the America’s Cup since it lost the trophy in 1983. This week the club’s campaign made a small but meaningful advance when American Magic’s AC75, Patriot, opened the America’s Cup World Series in Auckland, New Zealand, with two wins from two races.
On the opening day of competition Patriot posted a 2–0 record, claiming victory over one challenger, INEOS Team UK, and defeating the defending boat, Emirates Team New Zealand, in a separate race. Those results provide momentum for American Magic and underscore how close and tactical modern America’s Cup racing has become.
The day began with a win against Britannia. The British boat suffered technical problems before the start and failed to enter the starting box, which resulted in a DNF (did not finish) under the race committee’s scoring rules. Despite that setback Britannia remained on the racecourse to gather critical on-water experience — a common practice in early series regattas where practice under pressure is as valuable as the result. Patriot led from the start and maintained that lead throughout the course to record the victory.
The fourth race was a much tighter contest against the New Zealand defender Te Rehutai. Patriot jumped off the line cleanly and led through the first four laps, but the Kiwis forced a tactical exchange when they initiated an aggressive tacking duel. That sequence allowed Te Rehutai to snatch the lead at the final windward mark. On the closing leg, however, Patriot found stronger pressure and, by executing a series of clean gybes, regained the advantage to cross the line 12 seconds ahead. The race illustrated how fine margins, local wind shifts and disciplined boat handling determine outcomes in AC75 racing.
These World Series regattas function as high-intensity warm-ups for the Prada Cup, the challenger selection series scheduled to begin in January 2021. The Prada Cup will determine which of the challengers earns the right to face the defender — Emirates Team New Zealand — when the America’s Cup match starts on March 6, 2021. For teams like American Magic, the World Series is an opportunity to refine foiling trim, crew choreography and match-race tactics before the stakes increase in the Prada Cup and the Cup match itself.
Racing in the America’s Cup World Series highlights the evolution of the America’s Cup into a contest of both design and seamanship. The AC75 class produces dramatic foiling speeds and tactical complexity: starts, mark roundings, windward-leeward strategies and boat handling under high load all shape results. For the New York Yacht Club’s American Magic program, strong early performances build confidence and provide valuable data for the design and tuning teams back ashore.
For fans looking to follow the event, coverage is available through several broadcasters and platforms. In the United States, coverage was provided by NBC Sports outlets including NBC Sports Gold and NBC Sports Network, and championship programming was also posted on nbcsports.com with replays available. A downloadable U.S. broadcast guide and schedule was made available for viewers. International audiences could follow live feeds and on-demand replays via the America’s Cup’s official channels, including the event’s website and the America’s Cup YouTube channel.
Beyond the headlines and results, early-season racing is about learning: crews test equipment and procedures, shore teams calibrate performance data, and skippers practice split-second decisions under race pressure. Patriot’s opening-day 2–0 record won’t decide who ultimately lifts the Cup, but it does mark a promising start for American Magic as the 2021 Cup cycle builds toward the Prada Cup and the America’s Cup match in March.