AUT's Sailing Professor Mark Orams joins NZ Herald's Alex Chapman to dissect all of the news and developments surrounding the capsize and damage of the American Magic boat during Prada Cup racing. Video / NZ Herald
Dean Barker's American Magic crew have lived out a scene sailors would only hope to see in their nightmares - battling against the ocean and the conditions to save their boat after a spectacular capsize.
It was a concern when the AC75 was unveiled that the high speeds they would reach could be a recipe for carnage, but none could have predicted the scenes that unfolded on Sunday.
It seemed to happen in slow motion. The American syndicate appeared to be trying to take a sharp turn around the marker, travelling at 45 knots when they were picked up by the wind and all but lifted out of the water. The boat looked wobbly in the moments before going to the sky, and fell slowly and helplessly once they had dropped back down onto the water.
Patriot's bow seems to have risen out of the water a bit, which is promising. The team have managed to get the mainsail and jib down but the technology on this boat is surely going to be heavily compromised.
The crew members were all quickly accounted for and confirmed safe, but the vessel itself was taking on an alarming amount of water.
Pumps were rushed out to the vessel and members of Team New Zealand, Ineos Team UK and Luna Rossa, as well as police, divers and the coastguard went out on the water to try to keep American Magic's boat afloat, with several flotation devices being used in a bid to keep it above the water.
American Magic's Patriot lies on its side after capsizing. Photo / Michael Craig
There were suggestions from regatta officials that the vessel had sustained a leak as, after an hour of working to keep it above the water, the vessel didn't appear to be sinking any further but did not appear to be rising either.
However, after more than an hour and a half of frantic activity, the bow of the boat rose back above the water and the full vessel had soon completely emerged. While it was above the water, they were still pumping out some water more than two hours after the incident.
It eventually started its journey back to the Americans' base just before 8pm on Sunday, an 18km trek made backwards because of what is believed to be a hole in the bow.
The events were made all the more eerie after comments made by team skipper Terry Hutchinson late last year.
Floats are provided by the Coastguard to help Patriot stay bouyant. Photo / Michael Craig
In a press conference before the America's Cup World Series in December, when asked what the scariest manoeuvre in an AC75 was, American Magic skipper Terry Hutchinson responded: "Probably capsizing. It's a well-practised manoeuvre; we had 19 in our (scaled-down version) mule and one in our AC75, so we're experienced with it."
While they kept the boat from adding to the collection in Davy Jones' Locker, the next few days will reveal just how much damage has been done to the boat – particularly given how much technology is on board.
An American Magic crew member aboard the capsized Patriot. Photo / Michael Craig
The drama brought an end to a wild day in the Prada Cup in which the first race, between Luna Rossa and Ineos Team UK, was abandoned and restarted after four of six legs already being sailed due to a 90-degree wind shift.
The courses are set up to have legs upwind and downwind, and the wind shift meant it was blowing across the course and was deemed to meet the criteria for a restart.
After a short delay in which the course was shifted to better represent the conditions, the race was completed with Team UK taking their fourth win.
The second race, in which American Magic capsized, was given to Luna Rossa as the Americans were forced to withdraw.
Heading into the Cup racing?
• Give yourself plenty of time and think about catching a ferry, train or bus to watch the Cup.
• Make sure your AT HOP card is in your pocket. It's the best way to ride.
