America's Cup: First video of American Magic's AC75 test foiler
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz 7 Nov 2018 12:28 AEDT
7 November 2018
American Magic - Surrogate AC75 - launched October 27, 2018 © Amory Ross / American Magic
In what has become the way of America's Cup Challengers' sailing video debut, the US based team has been caught on fan-cam as they sailed their AC75 prototype in light air and flat water.
The American Magic team were shot sailing the 38ft AC75 surrogate on Rhode Island Sound, and are the second team to have launched a foiling monohull under the maximum 12metre length permitted in the Protocol governing the 36th America's Cup, to be sailed in Auckland.
It is not known whether one of the designated helmsman for the US team, Dean Barker was on the helm of the AC75 test boat.
INEOS Team UK, skippered by Sir Ben Ainslie launched a 28ft foiling surrogate in August, which seems to have performed better than expected by most who are sceptical of the foiling monohull concept, which will be used for the first time in the 2021 America's Cup.
The US challenger seems to have very steady flight height - without the variances observed initially on the British boat. The US boat is sailed by a crew of five - less than half of the 11 allowed in the AC75.
If anything, the performance of the AC75 Surrogate is sedate.
The video doesn't show a gybe or tack, which is the other indicator of foiling ability and stability.