Please select your home edition
Edition
Musto 2023 HPX LEADERBOARD

America's Cup - New York wants our Cup back

by Suzanne McFadden 30 Nov 2017 09:21 GMT 30 November 2017

Former Team NZ tactician Terry Hutchinson is bringing the New York Yacht Club back into the America’s Cup fray. He tells Suzanne McFadden what he thinks of the “beast” of a boat he’ll sail on, and why he must make this Cup count.
Terry Hutchinson, skipper of the New York Yacht Club’s challenge for the America’s Cup, knows that this is quite possibly his last shot at capturing sailing’s holy grail.

The 2021 regatta, conceivably to be raced on the Hauraki Gulf, will be his fourth attempt. It would have been five had he remained skipper of the 2013 Artemis challenge - but he was dropped from the team, not long before the fatal capsize of their 72ft catamaran on San Francisco Bay.

The closest Hutchinson has come to uplifting the feted silverware was with Team New Zealand in 2007, when he was tactician to Dean Barker in their unsuccessful Cup faceoff with Alinghi.

And now he has another chance, at the forefront of the Bella Mente Quantum Racing syndicate, which flies the burgee of the New York Yacht Club, the longest guardians of the America’s Cup.

“I can’t imagine I’m going to get many more opportunities after this, at least in a sailing capacity. I need to make this one count,” Hutchinson says.

Recognised around the globe as the sailor hidden behind lashings of white sunscreen and wrap-around sunglasses (he’s prone to skin cancers), Hutchinson turns 50 next May. But he’s buoyed by the fact that other yachtsmen of his generation have won the America’s Cup late in their sailing careers. Fellow American Ed Baird was 49 when he drove Alinghi to victory in 2007.

Although he sat out the multihull era of the Cup, an intensely competitive Hutchinson couldn’t abandon his desire to win the Auld Mug. He recounts the story of returning home the day he was let go from Artemis, and his daughter Katherine, then 11, saying: “Daddy, I’m sorry you can’t keep chasing your dream.”

Now the dream is in front of him once again. But to pursue it, Hutchinson will first have to learn how to tame “the beast” - the new AC75 boat that will be his ride.

The core of Hutchinson’s sailing crew is likely to come from the two monohull class programmes he has run over the last five years: the 72ft maxi Bella Mente and the TP52 class Quantum Racing. The wealthy owners of these very successful boats, financier John “Hap” Fauth and Amway president Doug DeVos respectively, are the team principals of this America’s Cup campaign.

To see the full story from Suzanne MacFadden www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/11/29/64301/new-york-wants-our-americas-cup-back

Related Articles

America's Cup - #3 Finish Line
The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. Step into the last leg. This is where legends break — or rise. Posted on 23 Jun
Burling "excited' by Italian move
In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role w In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role with Black Foils, the New Zealand SailGP Team. Posted on 20 Jun
America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup enthusiastically received in Naples
The Castel dell'Ovo, was the venue for the arrival of the America's Cup in Napes The Castel dell'Ovo, set on the tuft peninsula of Megaride was the outstanding setting for the Official Host Venue Presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 28 May
Italian PM welcomes America's Cup in Rome
Prime Minister Meloni set out a bold vision for the regeneration planned around AC38 The magnificent setting of the Casino del Bel Respiro, commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1644, in the grounds of Villa Pamphilj, was the outstanding and historic setting for the formal presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 26 May
America's Cup: Big changes in crew line-up
Women and Youth crews to sail in AC75 in the next Cup - Final Draft of AC38 Protocol Historic changes are proposed in the Final Draft of the Protocol released by the America's Cup Defender. For the first time a Female and Youth crew members will be part of the six-crew lineup on board the all-electric AC75s. Posted on 23 May
America's Cup: Emirates Team NZ respond
Emirates Team New Zealand has responded to the statements sent overnight (NZT) Emirates Team New Zealand has responded to the statements sent overnight by two Challenger teams calling for more transparency in the negotiations over the Protocol and venue for the 38th Match. Posted on 22 May
NYYC American Magic team statement
Concerns over transparency and cooperation necessary to secure a fair Protocol Over the past seven years, we've competed with pride, purpose, and perseverance in two editions of the America's Cup. It has been an honor to represent the New York Yacht Club and the United States on the global stage. Posted on 22 May
Athena Racing concerned over 38th AC transparency
Around the recent announcement of a Host City for the Cup in 2027 Athena Racing, representing Royal Yacht Squadron Ltd. as Challenger of Record for the 38th America's Cup, is concerned by the ongoing lack of transparency around the recent announcement of a Host City for the Cup in 2027. Posted on 22 May
America's Cup: Part 2 - No Excuse to Lose
The last race of the (63+254i) America's Cup has begun where tension deepens and strategy sharpens The last race of the (63+254i)th America's Cup has begun. Earth's syndicate, led by the New York Yacht Club, faces off against the Thalassocratic League of Deniau in a final match — winner takes all. Posted on 18 May