/ 
There will be a French challenge on the 35 e edition of the America's Cup, which will take place in two years. Franck Cammas, Michel Desjoyeaux and Olivier de Kersauson made the launch of Groupama Team France official. Alongside the sailors were Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Defense, and Patrick Kanner, Minister of Cities, Youth and Sports. The sailors will be sailing under the Groupama colors and will participate in the America's Cup World Series (ACWS) in Portsmouth in one month.
These three great names in sailing âeuros who have accumulated numerous records, trophies and victories between them âeuros want to win the oldest sporting trophy in the world. While Franck Cammas has been sailing under the Groupama colors for nearly eighteen years, achieving numerous performances, his sponsor has reaffirmed its confidence in him by committing to a national union project. " This is a great day for our team. Michel and Olivier and I have been working for two years to bring this project to fruition. Groupama Team France is now ready to take on the Cup and competitors who are the best in the world. What motivates us is to win the most difficult competition, to reach the next level, to reach excellence. And in sailing, the highest is the Cup." says Franck Cammas, skipper of Groupama Team France. To be one of the five challengers, who will take up the challenge against Oracle Team USA, Groupama Team France will have a global budget of 15 million euros over three years (5 million per year) contributed by Groupama. This already represents 80% of the total budget and as Michel Desjoyeaux said, " the door is open to those who want to join them ".
A challenge made possible by the change of boat
In the spring of 2015, the majority of challengers in agreement with the Defender voted to reduce the size of the boats from 62 feet to 48 feet. The America's Cup will therefore be held on one-design multihulls of 14.5 meters in length, which has allowed to reduce the budgets considerably. These have been divided by four, and have therefore allowed the French to participate in this 35th edition. Thanks to Franck Cammas, Groupama Team France will benefit from the financial support of Groupama, but also from the technical and technological support of the Ministry of Defense. Experts from the French Navy will help the French in their quest for victory. " France is the second largest maritime region in the world. However, a French crew has never won the America's Cup. This must change! By joining forces, Franck, Michel and Olivier are opening a new path: that of solidarity, excellence and sharing. I am also thinking of Brittany and its famous Sailing Valley, of the skills developed that we can all be proud of. It is by playing together that we will win the Cup and the French Navy will have brought its touch to it" said Jean-Yves Le Drian.
With the switch from the AC62 to the AC48, the America's Cup has become a competition for the best teams, not the richest. And everyone knows the French maritime heritage and excellence.
The French Challenge will have only one AC45, based in Lorient and the construction of the AC48 will start at the end of 2015. Franck Cammas will be the skipper of the French Challenge, Michel Desjoyeaux will manage the technological aspect and Olivier de Kersauson will be in charge of communication.
Photo credits: Yvan Zedda /Groupama Team France
