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| Architect | Richard Fanning Loper |
| Builder | T. Byerly & Son |
| Owner | Franklin Osgood |
| Club | New York Yacht Club |
| Type | Goélette à dérive (1870) |
| Length | 27,43 m |
| draft | 2,02/5,18 m |
| longer mast | 18,25 m |
| Displacement | 80 tons |
| sail area | 602 m² |
Cambria
Challenger
Cambria
| Architect | Michael Ratsey |
| Builder | Michael Ratsey |
| Owner | James Ashbury |
| Club | Royal Thames Yacht Club |
| Skipper | J TANNOCK |
| Type | Goélette with keel |
| Length hors-tout | 32,91 m |
| Draft | 3,66 m |
| larger mast | 18,60 m |
| Displacement | 188 tons |
| Sail area | 830 m² |
The winner
Magic is a light American schooner with a centerboard, typical of the shallow waters of New York. She danced where *Cambria* struggled, symbolizing the advantage of local naval architects who, like her designer R. F. Loper, created boats specifically for their conditions. Smaller and more agile, Magic knew how to take advantage of the shifting winds. She took the lead and was never overtaken.
The looser
The first official challenge was undertaken by the Challenger Cambria, a British schooner designed by Michael Ratsey. Sturdy and traditional, she embodied the power of the high seas. But her challenge was cruel: the rules forced her to face an entire fleet of 17 ships. She fought valiantly, but could not overcome this obstacle, paving the way for a century of rivalry.