America's Cup: NYYC American Magic is first AC75 to sail

American Magic's first AC75 sails for the first time, and creates sailing history as the first AC75 to sail. © Amory Ross

NYYC American Magic, the America's Cup challenger team of the New York Yacht Club, has become the first team to sail an AC75 soon after raising their sails for the first time.

With Dean Barker (NZL/USA) on the helm they were able to get the AC75 onto her foils, on the first day of sailing on Narragansett Bay near Newport, Rhode Island.

The only image released by the team, is shot from astern and shows a shallow hull form, with near full beam at the waterline.

Under the AC75 class rule there is a maximum spread allowed between the pivot points of the foil arms, and the beam of the canoe body of the ASC75 can exceed this measurement. Both designs appear to be near full beam at the conventional waterline point , below the foil arm pivot point. However it is below the hull "waterline" where there is serious divergence in the hull form. NYYC American Magic have opted for a simple shallow, aerodynamically efficient below the "waterline" shape. Emirates Team New Zealand appear to have focussed on a hull shape that will encourage the AC75 to foil as quickly as possible, through using hollows for drag reduction during lift-off.

With a very open design rule for the AC75 class, a divergence of design approach is expected, particularly in the first boats launched.

Both hulls have concentrated on the minimalisation of aero-drag, with the shape of the sheerline being the principal indicator. Otherwise the boat seems to be a close cousin of their 38ft prototype which has been sailed extensively since being launched in late October 2018.

The AC75 will be re-located to the team's winter base in Pensacola, Florida.

Emirates Team New Zealand's hull design approach, below the waterline, is dramatically different from that taken by NYYC American Magic , - photo © Richard Gladwell / Sail-World.com