Left: Roger Penske is one of the three main principals at American Magic and his involvement sends a strong signal of intent which challenge rivals will be foolish to overlook. Penske, seen here in 1959, went from selling used cars as a teenager to owning one of the world’s biggest automobile and truck companies. At the same time the 1961 US Race Driver of the Year – nickname The Captain – was also creating one of the greatest racecar teams of all time, winning the Indy 500 an incredible 17 times. Not a man with free time to squander. One month after the first date on which new boats could launch, American Magic’s Mule (opposite) is still the closest thing to an AC75 seen outside the America’s Cup team compounds…
trusted partner who could share other finan- cial and management requirements, not to mention offer a sympathetic and experi- enced ear when tough decisions needed to be made. In the day-to-day management activi- ties Hap Fauth is more involved, with DeVos happy to be in the background as a major contributor to the team. Fauth and DeVos are of course well
known in international racing. Fauth’s Bella Mentes have been consistent partici- pants at the highest level since 2005 when he launched his first Bella Mente. His latest is a Marcelino Botín-designed Maxi72. Doug DeVos has been a fixture for
years in the international yachting scene. Perhaps his best-known racer is Wind - quest, but DeVos’s extremely successful Quantum Racing has been at or right near the top of the TP52 circuit since its incep- tion. Those who know DeVos well speak of him in the highest terms. Linda Lindquist, world-class sailor in her own right, has sailed with and worked for Doug DeVos in Traverse City Michigan for years. ‘He loves the team part of sailing and his positive attitude and opportunity focus is contagious,’ she says. Chief oper- ating officer Rob Ouellette adds, ‘Doug has a very steady hand within the team. He is especially passionate about American Magic’s commitment to re-engage the younger generation and communicate the America’s Cup legacy to them.’ Other than in name the team is run
completely independently of the New York Yacht Club. Past Commodore Phil Lotz is the club’s representative on American Magic’s board. Theoretically Lotz’s job is to make sure the club is properly repre- sented. But Terry says he’s a great contrib- utor to the team, noting that Lotz himself is a fine sailor with a quick mind that ‘helps Rob Ouellette and me keep away from pitfalls we might not foresee’. It’s clear Lotz’s focus on a successful challenge means a lot to Terry. ‘He and I definitely share the same vision of where the next event’s going to be… in most senses.’
Lotz is the only club member directly
involved. But involved he is and his man- agement skills and business experience, not to mention a sunny personality, are already making a difference in the boardroom as well as keeping relations with the club seamless. Phil, with past commodore and Cup veteran David Elwell, is also co-chair of the NYYC America’s Cup Committee. To most American Magic’s third syndi-
cate member is a bit of a surprise. Roger Penske arguably has no equal in inter - national motorsport. First as a driver through the dangerous 1960s and since then as a team owner, Penske’s motorsport accomplishments are without peer. No team owner has won more Indy 500 races – and no one even comes close. As Rob Ouellette says, ‘He’s winning something, somewhere almost every weekend.’ Penske is of course also one of the
world’s most successful automobile entre- preneurs, specialising in both automobile and truck sales. The hours Penske puts into his businesses and racing are leg- endary. The result is that he knows almost every detail of his businesses and surely every detail of his racing operations. The long hours have also brought him a wealth of experience that is immediately applic - able to the American Magic team. He’s as involved as Phil, Hap and Doug are and he is in on all meetings and teleconferences. Penske’s experience running motor
racing teams will be an asset to the NYYC team that no Cup rival can match. His motorsport policies have already
affected me! Terry turned down a request of mine to see the building shop because ‘Penske said no way. He never lets media into his racecar shops.’ (Instead of being disappointed I was pleased that I might have at least been a blip on the great Penske’s radar screen.) Penske’s involvement began during the
Bermuda Cup when SoftBank skipper Dean Barker was introduced to him. Penske appeared surprisingly interested in the America’s Cup and particularly the
national pride it could evoke. Flag wavers may be an exaggeration, but Hap Fauth, Doug DeVos and Phil Lotz all share that strong national sentiment and want to harness it again after a 20-odd-year US absence from the event that carries its name. Penske’s desire to eventually see a USA team bring back the Cup hit a strong chord with the other board members and he was quickly part of the syndicate. And unlike more recent Cup teams
flying the US flag, American Magic are not paying lip service to the nationalistic element. This time around they will be actively working to fill a void between the US sailing community and the America’s Cup that’s existed for way too long. Amer- ican Magic will be actively reaching out to sailing organisations throughout the coun- try to share the excitement of their Cup effort. Early partners are the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) and Sail Newport. American Magic made room for IYRS interns from the start; some are now permanent members of the build team. American Magic’s
lead designer
Marcelino Botín, who also designed the latest Bella Mente, was an obvious choice especially for Fauth and Hutchinson. The personable Botín might just be the hottest designer in the game right now. His boats may be what everyone else raves about, but I must admit I envy him for another reason: his and his brother Gonzalo’s canard-winged twin turboprop Piaggio P180 Avanti, one of the sexiest planes in the air. Still waiting for a ride, though. The programme also received a huge
technology boost when Airbus joined the team. Presently no fewer than five Airbus engineers are embedded full-time within the team; American Magic remains the lowest- profile of the top teams heading to Auck- land in 2021 but bear in mind that, includ- ing the 20 sailors currently on the payroll, this international programme employs 122 people in all aspects of the effort. We knew the American Magic team
were serious when they wasted no time nailing down Dean Barker for helmsman even before they announced the challenge and before anyone else had the chance. Some will believe there are better choices out there, but it says here don’t bet against him: he will be tough to beat, especially with a team that gives him the equipment
SEAHORSE 57
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