After starting a first-to-five racing series at a 0-4 deficit, the New York Yacht Club American Magic sailing team has won three straight races and rekindled hopes that the team could settle into its new Pensacola headquarters as reigning America’s Cup champions.
American Magic – a foiling sailboat racing team set to make the Port of Pensacola its new home base – is facing the Italian racing team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final on Thursday, a head-to-head racing series that began Saturday in Barcelona, Spain. The winner of the series will advance to the Louis Vuitton Cup Finals and face-off against the British racing team INEOS Britannia, which clinched its spot in the finals Wednesday with a win over Swiss team Alinghi Red Bull Racing.
The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will race against Emirates Team New Zealand beginning on Oct. 17 and the first team to win seven races will win the 37th America’s Cup.
But before American Magic can look ahead to New Zealand or even Britannia, the team − now down 3-4 against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – must win back-to-back races Thursday or be eliminated.