One of the most discussed design features of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup is the innovation of the recumbents used by NYYC American Magic. While the other teams have opted for a more traditional configuration, the Magicians thought outside the box, balancing aerodynamic considerations with those of pure power output. This debate will occupy the entire sailing summer in Barcelona, but it is interesting to chat with one of the team’s recumbents, Colton Hall, who now has a view directly from the stern of their AC75 ‘Patriot’.
Colton’s path to the top of sailing took him through the ultra-competitive world of collegiate swimming in the USA, where from his freshman year through his graduation he excelled as a high-performing athlete with supreme, raw talent, breaking long-standing records and setting new standards.
Colton joined the multi-disciplinary athlete team NYYC American Magic and describes his journey as follows: “As a former swimmer, I come from a different background than the other cyclists on the team, which consists of five former rowers, two former America’s Cup riders and two track cyclists. I have always loved the water and started swimming competitively at a young age, eventually competing in Division 1 for Colgate University and the US Nationals in the 100m and 200m butterfly. Cycling has always been a hobby of mine and a great break from the confines of the pool. I didn’t think about competing in cycling competitions until after college when I joined the Greenline Velo team from Boston. I had never raced or trained on a bike before and couldn’t wait to get started. In the off-season, the Greenline Velo races on Zwift and that’s where I discovered my strength.”
Colton Hall American Magic Cyclor. Image provided.
The power supply of the generators on board the AC75s of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup is expressed in watts. Colton’s extraordinary power, displayed in the virtual world of Zwift online training and especially during races, has earned him a key role at NYYC American Magic: “After my first race, one of my teammates suggested I audition for American Magic as I had already exceeded the power requirements. I applied that same day and put up some solid numbers on the power test. That first test eventually led to an intensive in-person tryout in Annapolis, Maryland and another in Pensacola, Florida before I finally made the team.”
Colton has enthusiastically taken on the task of building the endurance required for the dynamic demands and lactose-inducing endurance of the AC75 during competition, especially given his endurance background in swimming. He says: “Every sport has its own style of training and training as a cyclist is no exception. In AC40 sailing, with no cyclists on board, we were able to do highly specific workouts to build strength and endurance which carried over into our sailing phase and got us right through the competition phase. Sailing Patriot several days a week and training on top of that can be quite exhausting, and Ben Day has done a great job of balancing the load of sailing and training. Coming from a swimming background, I was used to the high volume of training and enjoyed the long hours of quality work. I’d like to think my endurance levels were pretty high even from the start of this campaign. Two days after my first team trial, I rode 500 miles in over 25 hours, so the long days weren’t particularly challenging. I also did some 2 and 3 hour peak performance sessions.”
Keeping cool in the height of summer here in Barcelona is the hot topic for the cycling “association” around Port Vell, and for these highly trained athletes, it’s just another hurdle to overcome on the way to America’s Cup victory, as Colton says: “Wow, it’s hot here! I’ve lost up to 2kg in a single day sailing. Whether it’s heaters and fans in the gym while we do threshold over/under races in our sneakers, or training sessions in an 80° sauna, we do our best to adapt to the challenges the heat poses to our performance. We also have a great crew who also work to keep us cool. Staying hydrated is a huge priority!”
Colton Hall American Magic Cyclor. Image provided.
The varying conditions and sea states in Barcelona can have a dramatic impact on the demands placed on the Cyclor unit on board. Colton describes the role succinctly, and the power team is very aware of its requirements: “Our main job is to generate power to pressurise the boat’s hydraulic pumps so the afterguard can trim the sails and sail the boat as effectively as possible. The effort is more like over/under training, except the ‘unders’ are still quite high. When the boat is stable and sailing straight, the effort is not as great. Initiating and exiting maneuvers requires the most power.”
The recumbent aero position aboard the Patriot is certainly innovative, but a little confusing for the cyclists, as Colton describes: “Before the new Patriot, we could pop our heads up and catch a glimpse of the world going by because we were riding on upright bikes, which was incredible and gave you a sense of the power and beauty of these boats. With our new AC75, we are essentially recumbent, sunk into the hull, facing the sky. Occasionally, we catch a glimpse of another team’s sail blowing across our stern.”
The role of cyclist is physically demanding and very intense for all teams in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup. Colton gives an insight into the daily demands and how the American Magic team deals with them: “This sport is exceptionally difficult. The combination of high intensity and high heat can make for brutal training sessions. I burned over 1,500 calories in less than an hour on the boat and even reached a heart rate of 213 beats per minute. You know your teammates are relying on you to give as much power as possible throughout the race. When we’re done with the day on the water, I usually try to go for a spin on our indoor trainers to loosen up the legs while I refuel and rehydrate to start again the next day.”
Colton Hall American Magic Cyclor. Image provided.
Competing for the most famous and storied yacht club in the world – the New York Yacht Club – is a rare privilege, but one that Colton and his fellow Cyclor team members are approaching with remarkable verve. Their social media is full of fun and some real, true America’s Cup characters are coming to the fore. Driving this impressive challenge, the Pre-Regatta will be the first test, starting on August 22, before the Louis Vuitton Cup gets underway on August 29. Everything is on the line and NYYC American Magic is hitting all the right notes as the competition begins.
(Magnus Wheatley)
