Inclusion, knowledge transfer, and training have been a major focus for K-Challenge since its creation in 2001.
“With the appointment of Dawn Riley as Team Manager in 2001, we were already pioneers at the highest level with spectacular results: victory in the One Ton Cup, integration of women in all positions in the Corel45, Louis Vuitton Trophy, and America's Cup teams,” says Stephan Kandler, Founder and Co-CEO of K-Challenge.
In line with these commitments and the 2024 Youth and Women's America's Cup, K-Challenge is continuing its efforts to train young people and women in order to build a talent pool among future generations.
Ultimate goals: to shine on the Olympic podiums, in SailGP, and also to win the America's Cup.
K-Challenge is also committed to providing support through work-study programs in communication, sports project management, and technical fields (composites, hydrogen, etc.).
MOTH
Moth with Enzo Balanger: aiming for the 2026 World Championship
Within its Akademy, K-Challenge is supporting Enzo Balanger in his 2026 campaign, as he sets out to defend his Moth World Championship title from 2 to 11 November in Perth, Australia.
Enzo BALANGER
Passionate about sailing since his early childhood, Enzo Balanger, who followed a fairly traditional path in Guadeloupe, where he was born in 2000, and then in mainland France, is one of the most talented sailors of his generation. Read his profile. His project: Defending his World Championship title Once you have had a taste of it, it is hard to let go. Enzo and the Moth have shared a remarkable story since 2022, when he was thrown straight in at the deep end in Argentina, competing in the World Championship and breaking into the Top 10 with a ninth-place finish. Since then, he has returned to the class regularly — and more often than not, at the sharp end of the fleet: two French Championship titles in 2023 and 2024, two impressive victories at Foiling Week in 2023 and 2024, and two sixth-place finishes at the World Championships in England in 2023 and New Zealand in 2024. Then came the crowning moment in July 2025, when he secured the Foiling Moth World Championship title in Malcesine.
This year, Enzo is targeting the double and once again has his sights firmly set on the top step of the podium at the World Championship in Perth.
The boat
The MOTH is a boat that appeals to Enzo not only because it is an Open Class where all technological developments are permitted, but also for the thrills and adrenaline rush of flying at nearly 35 knots, and for the level of his competitors, who also shine on the international circuits!
Crew : 1 person
Length : 3,35m
Sail area : 8m2
2026 Programme 6–13 June: European Championship — L’Escala, Spain 2–11 November: World Championship — Perth, Australia April, May and June: training blocks in Quiberon.
ETF26
Two ETF26s committed to the 2026 season
Continuing its commitment following the 2024 Youth and Women’s America’s Cup and the 2025 ETF26 season, K-Challenge is pursuing — with the support of its partners, led by L’Oréal Groupe — its work to train and develop young and female athletes. Created by the Dubois-Kandler duo, the K-Challenge Akademy supports the development of young and female sailors, helping them build their skills on inshore circuits with the aim of creating a strong talent pool for future generations.
The 2026–2027 K-Challenge Akademy intake: one collective, two crews, 17 athletes:
Margaux Billy 5th at the Youth Nacra 17 World Championship — YC La Grande Motte, Occitanie League Pauline Courtois Five-time Women’s Match Racing World Champion — CV Saint-Aubin Elbeuf, Normandy League Maëlle Frascari Nacra 17 World Champion — SN Larmor-Plage, Brittany League Lara Granier 4th at the French Olympic Week in 49er FX, 2nd at the Youth Worlds in 470 — SR Antibes, Sud League Maelenn Lemaitre Five-time Women’s Match Racing World Champion — Yacht Club de Cherbourg, Normandy League Lou Mourniac Nacra 15 World Champion and European Vice-Champion — ASN Quiberon, Brittany League Audrey Ogereau Nacra 15 World Vice-Champion, with an offshore sailing pathway in Ocean Fifty — YC Monaco, Sud League Aloïse Retornaz Bronze medallist in the 470 at the Tokyo Olympic Games and bronze medallist at the Nacra 17 European Championship — SN Sablais, Pays de la Loire League Amélie Riou French Elite Olympic Sailing Champion in 49er FX — La Pelle Marseille, Sud League
_8 selected young sailors (ETF26 K-Challenge Blue)
Julien Bunel 2nd at the Mixed 470 Youth World Championship, Mixed 470 Youth European Champion, Youth Match Racing World Vice-Champion — BN Mare e Vela, Corsica League Ange Delerce Double French Youth Champion, Youth Match Racing World Vice-Champion, Open 420 World Vice-Champion, 420 European Champion — SR Antibes, Sud League Clément Martineau 2nd at the French Elite Olympic Sailing Championship, 3rd at the Nacra 17 World Championship — La Rochelle Nautique, Nouvelle-Aquitaine League Marin Micoulot Youth Match Racing World Champion, French Match Racing Vice-Champion, winner of the French Sailing League in J/80 — SNP Le Havre, Normandy League Matisse Pacaud French Elite Olympic Sailing Champion, 3rd at the 470 European Championship, 4th at the Senior 470 World Championship, Youth 470 European and World Champion — YC Cannes, Sud League Timothée Rossi French Match Racing Champion, 6th at the Youth Match Racing World Championship — SR Antibes, Sud League Eliott Savelon Nacra 15 World Champion, WASZP European Champion, trimmer for the Netherlands in the Youth America’s Cup Gaultier Tallieu Youth Match Racing European Champion, 6th at the French Elite Olympic Sailing Championship in 49er — BN La Palmyre, Nouvelle-Aquitaine League
Once again, for the 2026 season, K-Challenge has selected the ETF26 circuit as its competitive platform and will enter two catamarans.
“Since the end of the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup, we have of course remained closely attuned to our sailors and have looked for the best way for them to continue what we had started. We are entering two boats, as we did last year, on the ETF26 circuit, which we believe is particularly relevant both in terms of the platform — a foiling catamaran — and the level of the fleet, which is highly competitive and very strong,” explains Léo Chapalain, Head of the K-Challenge Akademy.
The ETF26 Series
The ETF26 flying catamaran was designed and developed in 2018 thanks to the vision and initiative of French ocean sailor Jean-Pierre Dick. With a design largely based on the Groupama Class C catamaran and inspired by the America's Cup AC50 flying catamarans that competed for the Cup in 2015, the ETF26 is a leading high-performance flying class.
The ETF26 Series takes place annually in Europe, with five events held in Spain, France, and Italy. Teams of four female athletes can compete on an equal footing with teams of three male athletes.
The ETF26 Catamaran
The ETF26 flies from 8 knots and above, at boat speeds of up to 2.5 times the wind speed. Speeds in excess of 30 knots are common.
Hull length with rudders - 8.10 m Beam - 4.30 m Mast height - 13.70 m Draft - 1.20 m Boat weight - 350 kg Mainsail - 29.5 m² Self-tacking jib - 11.0 m² Code 0 - 26.5 m²
ETF26 2026 Season Program
GP Mar Menor, Spain — 11 March GP Campione del Garda, Italy — 10 June Foiling Week, Malcesine, Italy — 1 July GP Lorient, France — 12 August GP Quiberon, France — 7 October
