The only French challenge
Cock-a-doodle-doo! There will be a French crew on the Spanish race course for the America's Cup in 2024. Stéphane Kandler and Bruno Dubois, the two partners of K-Challenge, have announced the arrival of a major partner in the race for the Cup.
The Accor group, under the leadership of its CEO Sébastien Bazin, will support the French team:
"I met Stéphane Kandler while having a coffee on the train that was taking me to the start of the Route du Rhum. We talked about France's involvement in the next America's Cup. We liked the project more and we decided to accompany him in this great ambition."
It is under the colors of the Orient Express, the mythical luxury train that took wealthy travelers to Constantinople in the Belle Epoque, that Accor wishes to communicate on the Cup.
Double commitment for the Orient Express Team
Main partner, the Orient Express Team will be present both on the America's Cup and on the SailGP circuit, as Bruno Dubois explains:
"Our team has been sailing on the SailGP circuit for several seasons against the best sailors in the world. Even though the work on both boats is different, the accumulation of experience will be complementary."
The complete selection of the team is not yet made, but two names have already been announced. Quentin Delapierre, already helmsman of the F50 on the Sail GP, will be at the helm of the Cup races, and does not hide his satisfaction:
"First of all, it is a great pride to represent my country on the Cup, as well as the Accor group for its support. It's a new challenge for us."
Franck Cammas is joining the performance pole within the design team. He will be the link between the technical staff and the sailors. Helmsman during the last French participation in Bermuda, he is keen to demonstrate his determination:
"We want to prove that France does not only shine in offshore racing, but also in inshore regattas."
And Bruno Dubois adds:
"We hope to prove our national ambition with the Orient Express Team. The idea is to prepare future generations for the Youth America and the Women's Cup.
A new partnership with Team New Zealand
A special relationship will unite the defender Team New Zealand with the challenger Orient Express Team, as Stéphane Kandler explains:
"The negotiations with the defender Team New Zealand went very well. This team is a model for us all. When I launched my first campaign in 2001, I worked a lot with them to acquire know-how and technology. We have to be at the highest level.
TNZ proposed us a design package, in order to optimize the performance of our machine. Our designers and sailors will then work to improve and evolve this technology. We are not late".
If the content of this package is confidential, it will indeed allow the French to compensate for a later preparation than their competitors.
A confidential budget but great ambitions
The amount of the allocated budget has not been communicated, and the French team is still looking for secondary partners, as Stéphane Kandler explains:
"We have the means, thanks to Accor, to be competitive and to carry out our desire to win. We will have the means, the machine and the crew to win. We will rent an AC75 while waiting for our boat, which will be launched in spring 2024. The hull will be built by Multiplast and the masts by CDK. In terms of economic benefits on a national scale, we estimate that France will benefit from 200,000 hours of labor.
The 38 e America's Cup in 2028 will be on the same basis as the 2024 edition, so we want to look ahead for the long term."
