Groupama Team France lost against Emirates Team New Zealand this Friday, June 2, 2017, eliminating any chance of continuing the adventure within the America's Cup . The French team knew they had to win this regatta against the New Zealanders to hope to reach the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs. With only two points on the scoreboard, the French Challenge won't make it to the semi-finals. However, we'll keep in mind two great victories against Artemis Racing and the English team from Land Rover-BAR.
A frustration certainly, for the French team who had been involved in the adventure since 11 December 2013. But also a conviction. The French are capable of facing formidable opponents, of designing a fast boat and leading it with brilliance alongside great teams. But they need more time.
"Tonight, there's a mixture of frustration and great pride in me. Frustrated, because as a competitor you always want to be in front of your opponents. It's not the case, but we've made so much progress in contact with our rivals in 7 days of racing and 10 regattas that that's all I'll remember.
I'm really proud of the work that has been done since Team France was formed with a handful of convinced people in 2013 when we started in the America's Cup. Then, especially since June 2015 and the arrival of Groupama, my loyal partner of 20 years, which has been able to respond once again. I'd like to thank them for that, as they're the ones who have enabled us to get back into operations and build up a team with designers, top flight engineers and quality technicians. We were able to be present from July 2015 on the preliminary circuit stage. Norauto arrived in February 2016. This was a great first for a European group that had never been involved in sponsoring before. This gives us a huge responsibility to carry high the colours of all our partners who trust us and who support us in both good and bad times. A huge thank you! Today, we are rich in all our achievements. We've built a solid foundation: a team that has been able to invest itself and put its individuality at the service of the collective, an AC Class that has been very well born according to what we see and hear from the competition... We have the foundations, and we need to continue building.
From tomorrow, we will continue training and our mind remains totally focused on the objective that is still ours: to bring the America's Cup back to France. We'll be there alongside the young champions from the Filière Team France Jeune who will be defending the colours of France in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup against 11 other teams from 15 June said Franck Cammas.
