American Magic‘s pursuit of speed in the 36th America’s Cup hinges on a close collaboration with Quantum Sails, a partnership designed to engineer the fastest sails possible. This relationship is crucial as teams vie for dominance in one of sailing’s most prestigious competitions.
Sails as a Strategic Advantage
American Magic executive Director and Skipper, Terry Hutchinson, detailed the synergy between his team and Quantum Sails, emphasizing their joint effort to push the boundaries of sail technology. The goal? To gain a competitive edge through superior sail performance.
Did you know?-The America’s Cup is the oldest international sporting trophy, first raced for in 1851 by the Royal Yacht Squadron under a set of rules writen down in 1856. It predates the modern Olympic Games.
The development process isn’t simply about building a sail; it’s a continuous cycle of analysis, refinement, and on-water testing. Hutchinson’s insights, combined with Quantum Sails’ expertise, are driving this iterative process. The team is focused on maximizing every fraction of a knot of speed.
The collaboration between American Magic and Quantum Sails began in 2018, with Quantum becoming the team’s exclusive sailmaker. American Magic, backed by the New York Yacht Club, aimed to bring the America’s Cup back to the United States after a 30-year drought.The team’s approach centered on innovative design, particularly in sail technology, believing it was a key differentiator. quantum Sails responded by dedicating significant resources to developing custom sails tailored to the unique demands of the AC75 class foiling monohulls.
Pro tip-Sail shape is constantly adjusted during a race. Trimmers use a complex system of lines and controls to optimize the sail for changing wind conditions and boat speed.
The 36th America’s Cup, held in auckland, New Zealand, in march 2021, saw American Magic initially perform strongly in the round robins, showcasing the effectiveness of their sail technology. However, a catastrophic capsize during a race against INEOS Team UK resulted in significant damage to their boat, *patriot*. Despite a remarkable effort to repair the boat within a short timeframe, the damage proved too extensive, and the team was ultimately eliminated from the competition. Team New Zealand successfully defended the America’s Cup,defeating Luna Rossa Prada pirelli in the final match. While American Magic didn’t win, their partnership with Quantum Sails demonstrated the critical role of sail technology in modern America’s Cup racing and laid the groundwork for future endeavors.
Watch our full collection on Youtube
