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 2025 World Championship
Within its Akademy, K-Challenge is committed to supporting Enzo Balanger in his 2025 project, namely to compete in the Moth World Championship next July on Lake Garda, Italy.
"With our partners, as a continuation of what was initiated in 2024 with the Youth and Women's America's Cup, it seemed obvious to us to continue the work of training our athletes. Enzo, who was the skipper of the Youth team last year, aims to do well in the 2025 Moth World Championship. He is facing tough international competition. He is learning to manage his mental state in complex competitive situations, on high-speed flying boats. This learning process is crucial. We want to help train young people and women so that France can shine in the biggest international crew competitions. "
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: the 2025 Moth World Championship Once you've tried it, you can't give it up! Enzo and the Moth have a wonderful story that began in 2022 in Argentina, where he jumped straight into the deep end by participating in the World Championship and finishing in the Top 10, in 9th place. Since then, he has returned regularly and generally finished near the top of the rankings: two French Championship titles (2023-2024), two impressive victories at Foiling Week (2023-2024), and two 6th place finishes at the World Championships in England (2023) and New Zealand (2024).
This year, Enzo aims to shine at the World Championships in Malcesine, on Lake Garda, next July. The Guadeloupe native is putting all the odds in his favor and has been training hard under the watchful eye of his coach, Aymeric Arthaud, on the World Championship waters since April 2025.
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
The 2025 program
May 4-5: Moth Balardi Cup (Malcesine, Italy) June 26-29: Foiling Week (Malcesine, Italy) July 4-5: Pre-Worlds (Malcesine, Italy) July 8-13: World Championships (Malcesine, Italy)
April–May–June: Training in Malcesine, Italy April–May: Two Grand Prix events aboard the ETF26 White skippered by Lou Mourniac, as mainsail trimmer.
ETF26
Two ETF26s committed to the 2025 season with Lou Mourniac as project manager
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, with the support of its partners, foremost among which are L'Oréal Group, Accor, and Nextworld.
The K-Challenge Academy, set up by the Dubois-Kandler duo, supports the development and skills enhancement of young and female sailors on inshore circuits in order to build a talent pool for future generations.
Specifically, for the 2025 season, K-Challenge has chosen the ETF26 circuit as its platform and is entering two catamarans, one skippered by Lou Mourniac and the other by Quentin Delapierre.
"Since the end of the Youth and Women's America's Cup, we have obviously remained in close contact with our sailors and have sought the best way for them to continue what we started in 2023. Today, we are embarking on the ETF26 circuit, which we believe is very appropriate both in terms of the support, a flying catamaran, and the level of competition, which is very competitive and challenging,“ explains Bruno Dubois, co-CEO of K-Challenge."Lou Mourniac, who successfully completed this ETF26 project, is therefore in charge of it for K-Challenge. She will also be the skipper of a mixed boat, with Camille Lecointre at the helm. With this crew, there is a clear desire to prioritize the training of women, few of whom have the necessary qualifications to sail high-speed foiling catamarans. Beyond the pure sailing aspect, we also want to support young people like Lou in project and team management. “
Alongside this young, all-female team, a second K-Challenge boat will be competing, skippered by Quentin Delapierre, mentor to the women's team.
Bruno Dubois:”To learn, you have to practice your skills on the water over and over again, of course, but you also have to observe and listen to those who have more expertise. In this respect, Quentin and his crew—Kevin Péponnet, Mathieu Vandame, Jason Saunders, and Timothé Lapauw, who will take turns throughout the season—will act as mentors. They will encourage the development of Lou's crew's skills by sharing their know-how and experience. Once again, this is simply a continuation of what was started during the last America's Cup. In addition, this support also allows Quentin's team to sail between SailGP events, which is also beneficial to the cohesion of the group and its performance. "
K-Challenge White crew – rotation between 4 sailors
K-Challenge Blue crew – rotation between 4 sailors
Quentin Delapierre (skipper – helmsman) Kevin Péponnet (mainsail trimmer) Jason Saunders (flight height trimmer) Tim Lapauw (No. 1)
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 2025 Season Program
GP Quiberon – April 9 GP Ecole Navale (Brest) - May 28 Foiling Week (Malcesine – Italy) – June 25 GP Riva del Garda (Italy) – April 27 GP Marmenor (Spain) – October 15
