With a new title sponsor and a slew of new talent on the sailing team, the French America’s Cup campaigners are looking to shake off their mantle of plucky underdogs, and have set their sights on going the distance in the Challenger selection series at the 38th America’s Cup.
The French campaign for the 38th America’s Cup got formally underway this week with an upbeat launch day in Lorient on Tuesday where the syndicate-masterminds Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois revealed a new title sponsor in the form of French world-leading dermatological skincare brand La Roche-Posay – along with a clutch of new key signings to the sailing team.
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There was no hiding the joint CEOs’ beaming faces as they announced the team’s new title – the La Roche-Posay Racing Team – and confirmed the signing of Spanish Olympic gold medallists and 2024 SailGP champions Diego Botín and Florian Trittel to the sailing team which is once again skippered by French Olympian Quentin Delapierre.
Two other new recruits – British AC veteran Leigh McMillan and French offshore rising star Amélie Grassi – were also announced, along with three sailors returning from the French 36th America’s Cup campaign – Jason Saunders (NZL/FRA), Bruno Mourniac (FRA), and Tim Lapauw (FRA) – as well as reigning Moth World Champion Enzo Ballanger (FRA) – who steps up from leading the French Youth Team in AC38.
Rounding out these announcements was confirmation of French two-time America’s Cup-winning coach Philippe Presti as sporting director for the second consecutive French AC campaign – a role he already carries out for the syndicate’s parallel DS Automobiles SailGP team.
Backing up the sailing squad is a technical team of over 60 led by the highly experienced Antoine Carraz (FRA) as chief technical officer, with electronics and mechatronics department head David Gautier (FRA), Benjamin Vernières (FRA), head of the appendage design department, and Owen David leading the hydraulic design programme.
Joining the French team for AC38 are data analyst Lucas Delcourt (FRA) as head of performance, and world-renowned sail designer and three-time America’s Cup winner Mickey Ickert (NZL).
The team has begun sailing in its single AC40 on the waters off Lorient in preparation for the first preliminary regatta of the AC38 cycle scheduled to take place in Cagliari of Sardinia in May this year. The team will also launch and sail its modified AC75 in Lorient, before moving to Naples in September.
After making a late entry into the 37th America’s Cup and struggling with limited funds, the French were the first to be eliminated in Barcelona. There is no mistaking that this new fully-funded campaign puts the team in a considerably stronger position in AC38.
To hear from the sailors and members of the management team interviewed exclusively in Lorient, keep an eye out for the next episode of the Yacht Racing Life Podcast.
I check-in with Tudor Team Alinghi’s director for technical and sailing, New Zealand America’s Cup veteran Dave Endean – the man in charge of making sure that in AC38 the Swiss syndicate improves on its somewhat lacklustre performance in the last Cup in Barcelona.
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