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Fiona Goodall / Getty Images
American Magic’s first-generation Defiant ship flies over the Bean Rock Lighthouse in Auckland’s Waitemata Harbor.
American Magic’s second-generation America’s Cup ship is on its way to Auckland.
The 75-foot ship is flying on a chartered cargo plane for its trip to New Zealand from the shipbuilding yard in Rhode Island on the east coast of the United States.
The ship will be the only ship to be used by American Magic for the Prada Cup Challenger Series.
The ship’s swift arrival in Auckland again points to the precision of the union backed by the powerful New York Yacht Club.
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American Magic was the first to officially sail and thwart the AC75’s radical new design last September, beating out defenders Emirates Team New Zealand for that honor with their Defiant ship.
The Americans could also be the first to launch their second-generation ship, although there will be a lot of work to get it going once it arrives in New Zealand.
American Magic’s Kiwi helmsman Dean Barker has hinted at some big changes to his new boat, saying, “It definitely looks different, there will be no question which is which.”
They were the first rivals to establish a base in Auckland, having sailed Defiant in Waitemata Harbor and the Hauraki Gulf regularly since July.
Italian record challenger Luna Rossa and the INEOS UK team are now moving to Auckland and will look to fine tune their second boats in the waters that will be used for the competition.
The world series regatta involving all four teams begins on December 17.
The Prada Cup challenger series runs through January and February and the winner will face the New Zealand team in the America’s Cup match in March.
American magic
America’s Cup challenger American Magic names the new Defiant ship and displays her impressive sailing debut.
