ORIENT EXPRESS RACING TEAM, led by Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, co-partners of K-Challenge, will represent France and the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. Quentin Delapierre will be at the helm of the French AC75.
©Orient Express Racing Team
With a commitment from Groupama and Norauto, the French challenge returned to the America’s Cup, led by Franck Cammas and supported by Michel Desjoyeaux and Olivier de Kersauzon. ‘Les Bleus’ competed at the highest level and scored points but it was not enough to reach the semi-finals.
©Eloi Stichelbaut
For this Deed of Gift match there was no French challenge, but the country was well represented with Joseph Ozanne inventing the rigid wing onboard the American challenger, and Thierry Fouchier a crew member.
©Gilles Martin-Raget
For the 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain, AREVA CHALLENGE led by Stéphan and Ortwin Kandler, was a new generation team that included women and young sailors. The challenge finished 8th in the Louis Vuitton Cup with Thierry Péponnet and then Sébastien Col at the helm.
©Franck Socha
AREVA CHALLENGE, supported by the nuclear giant and led by Pierre Mas, Xavier de Lesquen and Luc Gellusseau, represented France in Auckland. The fluorescent yellow boat skippered by Philippe Presti with Luc Pillot was eliminated before the semi-finals. Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli’s team ALINGHI became the first European team to win the event.
©Franck Socha
During the 30th edition of the America's Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, 6th SENS, financed by Bouygues Telecom and skippered by Bertrand Pacé (navigator-tactician for the three previous challenges) reached the semi-finals of an event that was once again largely dominated by the New Zealand team that included Russell Coutts.
©Franck Socha
FRANCE 2-3, the French America's Cup Class team struggled in California despite a brilliant crew led by Marc Pajot and Bertrand Pacé, and was unable to repeat its performance in the previous two Louis Vuitton Cups.
©Gilles Martin-Raget
In San Diego, on the new, larger, and more powerful America's Cup Class boats, VILLE DE PARIS financed by Pierre Legris, and led by Marc Pajot and Marc Bouët, lost in the semi-finals after a good campaign.
©Gilles Martin-Raget
FRENCH KISS, financed by Serge Crasnianski – creator of the Grenoble-based Key Independent System and inventor of the first key copying machine – and skippered by Marc Pajot, made its mark in Fremantle, Australia, reaching the semi-final in what was to be the last outing for the famous 12-Metres. A second French syndicate, CHALLENGE FRANCE, was sailed by Yves Pajot, Marc's brother.
©Gilles-Martin-Raget
FRANCE III, still helmed by Bruno Troublé, and bought by Yves Rousset-Rouard, producer of the film Emmanuelle, was defeated by AUSTRALIA II... the eventual winner of the America's Cup after 132 years of American dominance.
©Gilles Martin-Raget
Marcel Bich entrusted the helm of the new FRANCE II to Bruno Troublé, twice selected for the Olympics, but the new 12 M JI was not up to expectations and the tried and tested original FRANCE was first choice.
©Gilles Martin-Raget
This time it was 5.5 MJI world champion Jean-Marie Le Guillou who helmed Baron Bich’s 12 M JI FRANCE in Newport.
©Gilles Martin-Raget
Marcel Bich dreamed of the America's Cup for over five years before launching FRANCE, which was successively helmed by Louis Noverraz, Popie Delfour, and himself with Eric Tabarly as navigator. The French enjoyed Newport, temple of the America's Cup, but lost in the qualifying rounds.