Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

AC75 DEFIANT decommissioned as launch of PATRIOT nears

by American Magic 3 Oct 2020 13:22 PDT
DEFIANT was intended primarily as a training platform for the U.S. America's Cup Challenger, but her brief racing career, centered around two ACWS events in Europe, was canceled due to COVID-19 © American Magic / Will Ricketson

New York Yacht Club American Magic, the U.S. Challenger for the 36th America's Cup, has decommissioned its first AC75, DEFIANT. The planned conclusion of DEFIANT's testing lifecycle follows a stretch of sailing that began in September 2019 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, continued on to Pensacola, Florida, and ended in Auckland after 12 months of hard testing and unprecedented performance.

Following DEFIANT's decommissioning, the full attention and resources of the team have been directed towards the pre-launch preparations for its second AC75, PATRIOT.

"DEFIANT has been an absolutely perfect tool for us to use in the development process," said Terry Hutchinson, Skipper and Executive Director of American Magic. "With every one of these programs you run through certain developmental phases. With this type of boat, with the foils and the sails and the hull forms and the systems inside the boat all being incredibly complicated, it's been a great platform for us to learn on and to understand the strengths and weaknesses of our team."

After becoming the first AC75 in the world to sail and foil in September 2019, DEFIANT sailed thousands of training miles in three widely separated venues while pouring valuable data into the team's ongoing design process for PATRIOT. Never intended as a fully optimized racing yacht, DEFIANT had nevertheless been expected to compete in two European America's Cup World Series regattas in Cagliari, Italy, and Portsmouth, U.K. in 2020 prior to their cancellation due to COVID-19.

"While we haven't been able to do any racing against another boat, we have done plenty of race simulation laps now, while learning what you can and can't do [in the AC75]," said American Magic helmsman Dean Barker. Barker also noted that thanks to superlative shore team efforts, DEFIANT's last few weeks on the water in Auckland had been her most valuable.

"The thing with these boats is that they have to be 100% race-ready when you leave the dock or it's almost impossible to sail," said Barker. "I think we've been very lucky with the team that we've got, and the way they've kept the boat in one piece. We've managed to maintain a reasonable amount of reliability over the last few weeks in New Zealand. That's allowed us to be a lot more productive on the water. At the same time, knowing PATRIOT was getting even closer to being in the water while we were still out learning what we could [on DEFIANT] has been really important."

As he reflected on the end of DEFIANT's planned lifecycle, American Magic Principal Designer Marcelino Botin noted that the design period prior to the launch of the team's first AC75 was one of the most challenging of the campaign.

"Obviously [the AC75] was a new rule that had to be analyzed and looked at pretty carefully," said Botin. "We decided to build [our first AC75] as soon as possible, and as soon as the rule permitted us to do. At the same time, we were also working on the Mule, our little test boat. So it was a pretty demanding time for the design office to be working on the two boats at the same time. Those were the requirements we had at the time, and those two boats really served us well."

The AM38 test boat, nicknamed "the Mule" by Team Principal Roger Penske, amassed 92 days on the water, and DEFIANT followed with 66. American Magic's combined number of training days represents a significant achievement to date by the design, production, shore and sailing teams, and underlines the team's commitment to real-world data collection and analysis paired with advanced simulation.

With PATRIOT nearing her launch date in Auckland, Botin and said he was proud of the team's disciplined approach, rapid progress, and how as a group they had risen to the design, production and sailing challenges the AC75 represents.

"Five or six years ago, you never would have thought that we'd see a monohull foiling and sailing at the speeds these boats do," said Botin. "To me the most surprising thing has been how fast these boats can go, especially upwind. They are always surprising in that respect, just really impressive machines."

Related Articles

America's Cup: Luna Rossa to sail for Naples club.
Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest the next America's Cup as the team of a Naples club. Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest its seventh America's Cup as the team of the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia of Naples, as club that is new to the America's Cup. Posted on 10 Jul
America's Cup: French back "Kiwi" Protocol
K-Challenge tell Brits to sign Kiwi Protocol. Cup to be sailed before the end of 2025. Last weekend's missive from the French America's Cup challenge team is further evidence over the building frustration with progress towards the 2027 America's Cup in Naples. Posted on 6 Jul
K-Challenge gives opinion on proposed Protocol
Why the 38th edition could usher in a new era for the America's Cup Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, Co-CEOs of K-Challenge, jointly stated: “The provisional Protocol published on 23 May 2025 by Defender Emirates Team New Zealand is an important step forward for the America's Cup." Posted on 4 Jul
America's Cup: Confidential settlement reached
(Updated) A confidential settlement reached over five year Cup legal claims. Confidential settlement reached between the America's Cup team Emirates Team New Zealand and their formerly contracted Event Managers, Mayo & Calder, and others associated with the company. But what of Mainstream Media's role in the affair? Posted on 29 Jun
America's Cup - #3 Finish Line
The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. Step into the last leg. This is where legends break — or rise. Posted on 23 Jun
Cup Spy: "Burling Rule" unlikely to be changed
The Defender is unlikely to soften the Rules and allow open season on its sailing team. Despite the shift of three times America's Cup winner, Peter Burling it is understood that there is unlikely to be any softening of the Nationality rule to enable Burling to get any closer to the action than a chase-boat in the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 20 Jun
Burling "excited' by Italian move
In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role w In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role with Black Foils, the New Zealand SailGP Team. Posted on 20 Jun
America's Cup: Kiwis advertising for key people
Emirates Team NZ seeking new people for key roles ahead of its 12th America's Cup campaign Emirates Team New Zealand, the current America's Cup champion is gearing up for the 2027 Defence of the most prestigious trophy in sailing. The team has advertised eight positions in the IT, Meteorology and Engineering areas Posted on 12 Jun
America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup fillibustered by Challengers
A Cup in turmoil - Protocol is unsigned - with entries due to open on Sunday. Updated story: America's Cup got underway in Rome on Monday, with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. However three teams are working in collusion and have again issued statements within minutes of each other. Posted on 29 May
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_cruise BOTTOMNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastSelden 2020 - FOOTER