Paul Goodison rejoins NYYC American Magic for second America’s Cup campaign
Paul Goodison rejoins NYYC American Magic for second America’s Cup campaign
American syndicate also announces senior leadership team for second campaign
British Olympic gold medalist and three-time Moth world champion Paul Goodison has revealed that he has re-signed with the New York Yacht Club American Magic syndicate for a second consecutive tilt at winning the America’s Cup.
Goodison – who raced the 36th America’s Cup as wing trimmer on the American Magic AC75 – ended month’s of speculation over which team he would join for AC37 during an interview with his former British Olympic sailing squad teammate Shirley Robertson’s on her podcast.
Speaking at the end of the second instalment of the two-episode interview Goodison said: “I have just re-signed for the American Magic and I’m super excited to be going again and part of this team.”
Earlier in the interview the British sailor had spoken of his frustration and disappointment after the American team crashed out of the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland following a spectacular capsize in a Prada Cup challenger series race against the Italian Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli syndicate.
After the capsize the American Patriot AC75 was narrowly saved from sinking. Things looked bleak, but against all odds the team then rallied magnificently to repair the boat and get it back out racing again. However, there was no fairy tale ending to the story and soon after American Magic was the first team to be eliminated from the competition.
Unsurprisingly – given that ignominious exit – Goodison told Robertson that the America’s Cup “feels like unfinished business”.
“I am really excited to be going back to American Magic and to hopefully doing a much better job this time round,” he said.
“I feel like this team is really special to me – from the relationships we had and the journey that we went through. We saw highs together, we saw lows together and we made some special bonds – not only with other team members, but also the families and the kids.
During the interview Goodison did not reveal what role he would have on the American boat for his third America’s Cup campaign. However, it is a safe bet that he will either return to the mainsail trimmer role, or even be promoted to helmsman – perhaps even (if the rumours are true) in tandem with Australian Olympian and current Moth world champion Tom Slingsby.
For now though, Goodison is remaining relatively tight lipped on the matter.
“I don’t think I can really say to much,” he told Robertson. “It’s an incredible opportunity for me and something I can’t wait to get my teeth into.
“After sailing those cool boats – almost a year ago now – it’s time to get back out in them now. The second generation looks just as awesome and I can’t wait to be allowed to go out sailing again.”
Goodison’s revelation comes in the same week that the NYYC American Magic has announced its leadership team for the the AC37 campaign.
Mike Cazer will serve as chief executive officer. In that role he will lead the overall team with a focus on making American Magic into a commercially attractive brand and the leader of sailing in the United States.
Cazer also serves as CEO of Continuum Ventures – the family office for American Magic co-founder Doug DeVos – and and has nearly 35 years of global business experience. Before American Magic and Continuum he worked with DeVos as the chief operating officer of Amway and was a senior executive with Brinks and GE.
Meanwhile Terry Hutchinson will continue as skipper and president of sailing operations.
Terry is a two-time college sailor of the year, four-time collegiate All-American, sixteen-time world champion, two-time U.S. Rolex Yachtsman of the year, and is a past winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Terry is now entering into his sixth America’s Cup program.
Scott Ferguson who signed with the team last August, will serve as design coordinator and lead a design team to bring innovation and cutting-edge technology to our design approach.
Ferguson is a three-time collegiate all-American, two-time world champion, and two-time America’s Cup winner as a designer. A naval architect, he is entering into his ninth America’s Cup campaign, after winning in 2010 and 2013 with Oracle Team USA during the competition’s transition to winged sails and high-speed foiling.
Previously boat captain with American Magic in the 36th America’s Cup Tyson Lamond steps into the role of chief operating officer. Lamond supported SoftBank Team Japan as shore operations manager in 2015-2017 and was Emirates Team New Zealand boat captain from 2008 to 2015.
Meanwhile Ben Osborn continues as American Magic’s Chief Financial Officer. Osborn also serves as a financial executive inside the marine operations of The Churchill Companies – an financial organisation started by American Magic co-founder Hap Fauth – where he has spent the past twenty-one years of his career. Prior to that Osborn worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers in their audit and business assurance practice.
“We have an incredibly talented, experienced, and dedicated team and are fortunate to have such dynamic and talented people across our entire organisation,” remarked Doug DeVos –principal of New York Yacht Club American Magic. “We know people are at the centre of all we do and are the critical ingredients for success both on and off the water.”
“We remain intensely focused on our goal of winning the America’s Cup and bringing the Cup home to the New York Yacht Club and the United States,” commented Hap Fauth, principal of New York Yacht Club American Magic. “We have the right team in place to achieve extraordinary and historic success.”