K-Challenge Akademy Continues Its Progress in ETF26 While Shining Across the International Sailing Circuit

Lorient, 5 July 2026 – Following the ETF26 European Championship in Campione del Garda, the K-Challenge Akademy crews returned to Lake Garda for Foiling Week, one of the world's leading events dedicated to foiling sailing.

Over four days of racing, the Akademy’s two crews competed against some of the strongest teams on the ETF26 circuit in demanding conditions, providing another valuable opportunity to accelerate their development on one of the most technical foiling platforms in modern sailing.

While the final standings – 6th place for K-Challenge White and 7th place for K-Challenge Blue – do not yet reflect the Akademy's sporting ambitions, they do not tell the full story of the progress made throughout the week.

Race after race, both crews improved their boat handling, starting performance, flight control and onboard communication, successfully achieving the objectives set ahead of the event. These encouraging steps forward perfectly reflect the K-Challenge Akademy's mission: to develop the next generation of high-performance sailors by exposing them early to the demands of international competition.

"This has been a very encouraging week. The results are not what we will remember. What matters most is the progress we made. Our starts improved significantly, the crews gained confidence on the boat, and their flight performance—both upwind and downwind—became increasingly consistent. We leave with valuable lessons and real momentum for the rest of the season," said Julien d'Ortoli, K-Challenge Akademy Coach.

At the helm of K-Challenge Blue, skipper Marin Micoulot also highlighted the progress achieved throughout the event.

"We learned a tremendous amount throughout Foiling Week. Our understanding of the boat continues to improve, our teamwork is becoming more fluid, and we managed to raise our level race after race. The results are not yet where we want them to be, but we leave with invaluable experience for the remainder of the season."

For the K-Challenge White all-female crew, onboard communication was one of the key focus areas throughout the regatta.

"One of our main objectives was to improve our onboard communication, and that was undoubtedly one of the biggest positives of the week. We gained confidence throughout the racing, delivered some strong performances and developed real team chemistry. We leave Malcesine as a stronger crew and already looking forward to the next event," concluded Audrey Ogereau, K-Challenge Akademy athlete.

Akademy Athletes Also Shine on the International Stage

Alongside Foiling Week, several members of the K-Challenge Akademy were competing at other major international events, highlighting the breadth of talent supported by the programme.

In Marstrand, Sweden, Pauline Courtois, who joined the Akademy this season, claimed victory at the prestigious GKSS Match Cup Sweden, a stage of the World Match Racing Tour. Racing alongside Maëlenn Lemaître, recently selected for La Roche Posay Racing Team, the French Challenger for the next America's Cup led by K-Challenge, Pauline and her crew defeated Sweden's Johanna Bergqvist Carlsson 3-1 in the final to lift the trophy.

Another Akademy athlete competing in Marstrand, Ange Delerce, also delivered an impressive performance. After reaching the semi-finals, he and his crew finished fourth overall, narrowly missing out on the podium after the petit final against Sweden's Johnie Berntsson.

These performances demonstrate both the diversity of the talent within the K-Challenge Akademy and the programme's commitment to supporting its athletes throughout their sporting careers across a wide range of international sailing disciplines.

The Akademy's ETF26 crews will return to competition in early August in Lorient, where they will look to build on the progress made in Malcesine and continue their upward trajectory.