Sean is calling from New Zealand to talk to us about American Magic Team and America’s Cup 9:25-9:54 AM Pacific Daylight Time today..

O’Halloran grew up in San Jose, California, and learned to sail at an early age, but it wasn’t until college that his passion for sailing became a major focus. He earned a spot on his college team through determination and countless hours of studying videos of sailing technique. After graduation, O’Halloran went into the culinary industry but sailing was never far from his thoughts.

O’Halloran got his first taste of the America’s Cup when he started crewing on USA 76, a retired IACC boat that is similar to the yachts Oakcliff Executive Director Dawn Riley raced in her campaigns for the Cup. O’Halloran became aware of Oakcliff when he competed in the 2015 Block Island Race Week on a J/122 and saw one of Oakcliff’s turbocharged Farr 40s in action. Oakcliff’s Sapling program was the perfect way to kickstart his career, and shortly after graduating from the program, O’Halloran was hired as a boat captain at Oakcliff.In June 2019, Sean was offered a chance to step onboard DEFIANT as a member of the sailing team.

The partnership with American Magic is one of several that enhances Oakcliff’s Professional Development Program. Other recent success stories include placing students with Team Vestas 11th Hour Racing and Team Alvimedica, run by Oakcliff graduates and Volvo Ocean Race veterans Charlie Enright and Mark Towill. Other students and graduates have sailed with Rick Warner, the owner of Areté, an ORMA 60 trimaran in the Great Lakes seeking to break the Chicago to Mackinac Island speed record.

.