Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Cup Spy: American Magic sails with cyclors for the first time

by Richard Gladwell Sail-World NZ 19 Oct 2022 18:45 PDT 19 October 2022
Patriot - American Magic - AC75 - October 19, 2022 - Pensacola, Fl © Paul Todd/America's Cup

Today, American Magic became the first America's Cup team to test the use of cyclors on an AC75.

Key points October 19, 2022:

  • American Magic tests out cyclors for the first time by any team on an AC75 during a test sail today, on Pensacola Bay, FL
  • Alinghi Red Bull Racing sailed at Barcelona doing a spectacular nosedive after the rudder came completely clear of the water, and subsequently blew the clew out of a jib.
  • Emirates Team NZ did a short sailing session, on Wednesday, in winds of around 25kts on the outer Waitemata Harbour, without incident and hitting speeds of over 45kts again.
  • Luna Rossa yet to sail their LEQ12, surrogate yacht, launched a week ago.
  • Brits yet to reveal their LEQ12, surrogate yacht or update on the delivery of their AC40 which has been shipped from China.

American Magic writes another page in Cup history:

Cyclors reappeared for the first time in an America's Cup since 2017, when American Magic gave a practical demonstration of their just announced partnership with SRAM, claimed to be the world's most innovative bicycle component manufacturer.

The use of cyclors by the New York Yacht Club's team, is not a surprise given their announcement of the partnership two days ago. However using the bikes to provide onboard power for the hydraulic control systems, just three days after re-launching the AC75 shows the team have been working hard over the last six months.

After the training session Kirk Jordan, a structural engineer on the American Magic design team did a dockside interview, with a member of the AC37 Joint Recon team assigned to American Magic.

Jordan explained that the cycles were just one "of the features that we're experimenting with now. We put them on for the first time today. We're just at the beginning of that learning curve."

He was unable to say whether the cyclors met the power requirements of the AC75, which is the first to have been near-converted to the Version 2 of the AC75 Class rule - which incorporates many changes that will apply to boats sailed in the next America's Cup.

"I don't think we have enough data yet," Jordan said in response to a question as to whether the cyclists were able to contribute enough power. "It was a little bit of an odd day you know, we're kind of trying to tune the systems, and and unfortunately, the weather wasn't as good as we thought. It was just spotty. So we were in and out and of foiling, and messing around with the systems a lot of the day. It wasn't nearly as interesting as we were hoping," he added.

He made it clear that the team had not decided on whether cyclors would be a permanent fixture on the test boat. "SRAM are a world class cycling component company, and, if we head down this path with cyclists, having their technical expertise will be fantastic. Anybody would want it," he added.

Cyclors, aside the weather subverted a lot of today's test checklist.

"We had a lot of boxes to tick and the weather didn't allow us to do that. But you know that that's pretty common in this game," he philosophically.

The team tested the sail geometry on three jibs today. The sails were from the 2021 America's Cup, but had been modified with new strops and similar to accommodate changes made by the new AC75 class rule. The jibs were not ones that would normally be used in the conditions, but were hoisted using a portable electric winch, to test strop lengths and similar.

Alinghi Red Bull Racing has best day yet, but ends with a splash and a dry gybe.

Alinghi Red Bull Racing started slowly, after being delayed in leaving the dock due to light winds. Winds were too light for foiling in the initial sailing areas and Boat Zero was towed south to the area off the airport which did have better breeze. The Swiss had their best foiling session yet, despite a lazy swell. They executed their first dry gybe, just after blowing the clew out of the J1 in a spectacular, rudder out of the water nosedive. Given the rest of their foiling performance on the day, which was easily the best yet, one can only assume that the nosedive was caused by operator error.


Emirates Team NZ blasts away in a top end breeze.

Emirates Team New Zealand got underway early on Tuesday morning, with the SW breeze predicted to freshen during the day.

The Recon team reported the "breeze" as being 8kts increasing to 25kts, when the session was cut short. The AC40 in One Design mode experienced a variety of sea states encountering wind against tide in some areas of the inner Hauraki Gulf.

Session Statistics - Pensacola October 19, 2022 - American Magic - AC75 Version 1.75

  • Wind Strength (AM) 10-14kts (PM): 5kts
  • Wind Direction: NNE (AM) - NE (PM)
  • Sea State: 2ft in the morning, but decreased over the day.
  • Crane in: 0918 Dock Out: 1033
  • Dock In: 1512 Crane out: 1544
  • Total Tacks: 3 - Fully foiling: 1; Touch & Go: 0; Touch Down: 2
  • Total Gybes: 2 - Fully foiling: 2; Touch & Go: 0; Touch Down: 0

Session Statistics - Barcelona - October 19, 2022 - Alinghi Red Bull Racing - AC75 Version 1

  • Wind Strength (AM) 3kts (PM): 7kts
  • Wind Direction: E (AM) - SSW (PM)
  • Sea State: 2 in the morning, but decreased over the day.
  • Crane in: 0910 Dock Out: 1215
  • Dock In: 1755 Crane out: 1825
  • Total Tacks: 14 - Fully foiling: 0; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 5
  • Total Gybes: 13 - Fully foiling: 1; Touch & Go: 7; Touch Down: 4

Session Statistics - Auckland - October 19, 2022 - Emirates Team NZ - AC40 One Design

  • Wind Strength (AM) 8-25kts (PM):
  • Wind Direction: SW (AM) - (PM)
  • Sea State: Slight - Moderate
  • Crane in: 0730 Dock Out: 0800
  • Dock In: 1020 Crane out: 1040
  • Total Tacks: 24 - Fully foiling: 22; Touch & Go: 1; Touch Down: 1
  • Total Gybes: 8 - Fully foiling: 8; Touch & Go: 0; Touch Down: 0

GPS Tracks:

American Magic - Pensacola, Fl.:

Alinghi Red Bull Racing - Barcelona

Emirates Team NZ - Auckland

Image Gallery:

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, 2017 and 2021 America's Cups.

Related Articles

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
America's Cup enthusiastically received in Naples
The Castel dell'Ovo, was the venue for the arrival of the America's Cup in Napes The Castel dell'Ovo, set on the tuft peninsula of Megaride was the outstanding setting for the Official Host Venue Presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 28 May
Italian PM welcomes America's Cup in Rome
Prime Minister Meloni set out a bold vision for the regeneration planned around AC38 The magnificent setting of the Casino del Bel Respiro, commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1644, in the grounds of Villa Pamphilj, was the outstanding and historic setting for the formal presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup. Posted on 26 May
America's Cup: Big changes in crew line-up
Women and Youth crews to sail in AC75 in the next Cup - Final Draft of AC38 Protocol Historic changes are proposed in the Final Draft of the Protocol released by the America's Cup Defender. For the first time a Female and Youth crew members will be part of the six-crew lineup on board the all-electric AC75s. Posted on 23 May
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_cruise BOTTOM