NY Yacht Club boat arrives in New Zealand for America's Cup

By Associated Press 29 June 2020, 12:00AM

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — The New York Yacht Club’s challenge for the America’s Cup took a major step forward Monday with the arrival of its first boat in New Zealand.

The 75-footer, named Defiant, was transported by air to Auckland and was due at the American Magic team base at the Wynyard Quarter near downtown Auckland on Tuesday.

Team members, including New Zealand-born helmsman Dean Barker, were due to clear quarantine later this week.

American Magic will use Defiant for testing and training before bringing its second boat to New Zealand closer to the start of the Cup regatta. The team is able to train on the five racecourses which will be used for the Cup series on March 6-21.

British challenger Ineos Team UK is expected to land its boats in Auckland in early July.

Defiant is among the first of a new generation of America’s Cup racers, a 75 foot monohull that rises out of the water on foils like a hydrofoil and is capable of high speeds because of a lack of drag.

Team New Zealand will defend the America's Cup in the 36th Cup regatta since the trophy was first won by the sailboat America off Cowes, England in 1851.

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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

By Associated Press 29 June 2020, 12:00AM

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