Cup Spy May 7: American Magic's AC75 completes launch, tow-test, sail and tack on Day 1
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World NZ 8 May 12:44 BST
10 April 2024
American Magic - AC75 - Day 1 - May 7, 2024 - Barcelona © Alex Carabi / America's Cup
New York Yacht Club's American Magic has revealed their new AC75 and completes launch, tow-test, sail and tack in Barcelona on Day 1 of the next phase of the Club's Challenger for the America's Cup which they held for 132years.
What happened in the Cup - May 7, 2024:
- Alinghi Red Bull Racing: Sailed today out of Barcelona - report to follow
- Emirates Team New Zealand: Stopped sailing on May 1. Is now backing their AC75 for Barcelona - expected to resume sailing in early July. The team has its AC40s in Auckland and was reported to be sailing today, Wednesday, May 8, in Auckland.
- American Magic: Launched their AC75 on May 7. According to team boss Terry Hutchinson the team had their "best day" yet, of their America's Cup launches. Although they only sailed one leg - including two tacks - the came in early after forecasts of thunderstorms moving into the sailing area.
- Orient Express Racing Team: No AC37 Recon Team report. A launch date has yet to be publicly advised for their AC75 raceboat.
- INEOS Britannia: Have launched and sailed their AC75 raceboat - report to follow.
- Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli: Launched their AC75 raceboat - on April 13 in Cagliari, and have sailed three times since, including Tuesday - report to follow.
AC37 Joint Recon Team Reports:
American Magic - AC75 - Day 1 - May 7, 2024 - Barcelona
American Magic rolled out their new AC75, Boat 3, at 05:45hrs. The team revealed new single flap wing foils, with a very slight anhedral curve and blended wingtips, both in chrome finish, each with slightly different foil arm stocks. The rudder, mounted right back, looks to be the legacy rudder from Patriot used in the 36th America’s Cup. The mast was stepped and shrouds connected, before the crew stepped off the yacht for a quick crane lift test.
The yacht was named ‘Patriot’ and christened by Clare Harrington, Vice Commodore of the New York Yacht Club.
Patriot was craned in at 08:10hrs, revealing on each side, three pods interior and one exterior. Looking at one side, the two rear cyclor pods have bigger openings than seen on other boats, and controllers attached to the sidewalls of the aft pod (only port side visible). It was later confirmed that the cyclors would pedal in a recumbent position, facing aft.
In front of the cyclor pods is the trimmer/flight controller pod, with the helmsman close by on the outside. A Formula 1 style steering wheel, with control buttons on the wheel was also spotted. Lidar instruments were mounted on the sheerline, in line with the centre of the mainsail. What looks like a display showing a live camera was spotted in the starboard inner pod.
A long list of systems testing was carried out through the rest of the morning. The team started with setting up the Cunningham system and mast rotation, followed by FCS testing. Back stays were connected from the mast head to a large actuator in place of the mainsheet system, connected to the traveller on a pivot. A thick line was hoisted with the jib halyard in place of the jib, running through a sheave connected to the jib sheet, then increasing the load on the jib sheet and main actuator.
The team docked out at 13:20hrs, lifting each foil individually before exiting the port. Tow testing commenced from the port entrance at 13:35hrs, towing NE for 7.5nm, at speeds ranging between 20-30kts. The team came to a stop 5nm offshore, and began sail fitting, first slowly hoisting the MN2-1 mainsail, followed by the J4-1 jib. While still alongside the chase, the J4 was dropped and replaced with the J3-1 jib, before commencing sailing at 15:38hrs.
The yacht sailed in displacement mode for just over 15 minutes, with crew inspecting main and jib systems. Tech crew jumped back on board for a quick checkover, before the team started their second sailing stint at 16:00hrs.
The yacht was sailed upwind back to the port entrance, taking off at approximately 18kts boat speed.
The team performed two tacks in succession, one touch and go, the other just about fully foiling, as well as a bear away and round up.
Paul Goodison helmed most of the upwind on port. The yacht came to a stop after 20 minutes of sailing on foil, with sails dropped by 16:40hrs as storms were predicted in the evening. The team docked in at 17:00hrs and Patriot was craned out half an our later, (with rust stains at both foil arm hips, where the foil arm stock meets the one design foil arm component) before being rolled back into the shed at 18:10hrs for further works to continue throughout the evening.
[Report by Justin Busuttil - AC37 Joint Recon Team]
Crew: Co-Helms: America: Paul Goodison, Lucas Calabrese. Co-Trimmers America: Andrew Campbell, Michael Menninger
Session Statistics: American Magic - AC75 - Day 1 - May 1, 2024 - Barcelona
- Weather: 18 °C - Cloudy
- Wind Strength: 9kts-12kts
- Wind Direction: 160-180° (E-S)
- Sea State: 0.4 - 0.7mtrs 135° (SE)
- Dock Out: 1320hrs
- Dock In: 1700hrs
- Total Tacks: 2 Fully Foiling: 1; Touch and Go: 1; Touch Down: 0
- Total Gybes: 0 Fully Foiling: 0; Touch and Go: 0; Touch Down: 0
Additional Images:
This commentary was written and compiled from video, still images and statistical content extracted from the AC37 Joint Recon program and other material available to Sail-World NZ, including photo files and other on the water coverage from the 2010, 2013, and 2017 and 2021 America's Cups. Its format is intended to give Sail-World readers a snapshot of all teams' progress on a given day or period.