America Gets Off to a Good Start Toward the America’s Cup

The New York Yacht Club has been trying to win the America’s Cup back since it lost it in 1983.

This week, the New York Yacht Club took one tiny step toward regaining the cup when the American Magic AC75, Patriot, went 2-0 on the opening day of the America’s Cup World Series in Auckland, New Zealand.

American Magic’s Patriot beat one of the challengers, INEOS Team UK, in the first race of the day and defender Emirates Team New Zealand in the fourth race.

In the first race, Patriot beat Britannia, which was experiencing technical difficulties prior to the start and failed to enter the starting box. Britannia was scored as a DNF because it did not comply with the rules, but she raced anyway because race experience is so valuable in these early stages. Patriot led the race the entire way.

In the fourth race of the day, Patriot met the New Zealand boat Te Rehutai, which turned out to be a more closely contested competition. Patriot got off the line first and led through the first four laps but got caught after the Kiwis initiated a tacking duel. The Kiwis took the lead at the final windward mark but on the final leg the American boat found better pressure, and by executing clean gybes, won by 12 seconds.

The America's Cup World Series is the warm-up event to The Prada Cup, which begins in January 2021 and will determine which of the three challengers will be allowed to race the Kiwis in the America's Cup competition set to begin on March 6, 2021.

U.S. viewers can watch all racing live on NBC Sports Gold.

NBC Sports Network and www.nbcsports.com carry most of the racing either live or with a time delay, and all races will be available on replay. Here is a U.S. Broadcast Guide and Schedule (Downloadable PDF).

International viewers will be able to watch racing live and on replay via the America's Cup website and the America’s Cup YouTube channel.