America’s Cup challenger American Magic announced it is collaborating with the International Yacht Restoration School to strengthen the marine composite fabrication industries in the United States.
There are nine graduates from the IYRS School of Technology and Trades working in the Bristol, R.I., production facility of American Magic, a U.S. Challenger for the 36th America’s Cup backed by the New York Yacht Club.
“Our team was formed to win the America’s Cup and to help rebuild an America’s Cup culture in the United States,” Terry Hutchinson, American Magic skipper and executive director, said in a statement. “IYRS is helping us to accomplish both. It is a real testament to the quality of the school’s programs that we were able to plug so many IYRS graduates directly into an America’s Cup facility building AC75 yachts. Our boatbuilders from IYRS will help ensure that the U.S. can produce the fastest racing boats in the world long into the future.”
“IYRS is thrilled to have its graduates be a part of the team working to build American Magic’s boats,” said IYRS president Jay Coogan. “The America’s Cup has fostered innovation in racing yachts throughout its history. It is exciting that American Magic is bringing together expertise across many disciplines to create this high-performance production program here in Rhode Island.”
To celebrate the partnership, American Magic COO Rob Ouellette will be the keynote speaker at the IYRS Winter Celebration on March 28 at NYYC’s New York City headquarters.
“Working on an America’s Cup program is a dream come true for someone in the composites industry, and especially for someone who loves sailing,” said James Allsopp, a 2013 IYRS graduate who is building boats for American Magic. “The boats we are building in Bristol are pretty special, and I think they will generate a lot of pride for IYRS grads, American Magic fans and everyone in the marine industry.”
